File 2908/1907 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf:- Quarantine; German complaint’ [‎42r] (83/250)

Ayant fait cela il pourrait avoir discute I’affaire avec le medecin et produit
ses temoignages. En n’agissant pas de cette fa5on il est clair qu’il s’est mis a
tort. J’ai pourtant regu une longue lettre d’explication du Consul Russe et
tout en maintenant mes conclusions susdits comme je vais partir pour Bendar
Abbas dans deux jours je pense que Paffaire ne perdra point si on le laisse en
suspens jusqu’a mon retour quand je remettrai tout rapport final qui puisse sem-
bler necessaire.
(Enclosure No. 8.)
Copy of a telegram No. 30 — 138, dated 25th March 1907, from Major
P. Z. Cox } C.I.E.i Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , to Sir Cecil
Spring Rice, K.C.M.G., His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran.
Please refer to previous correspondence on the subject of the Quarantine
incident at Bunder Abbas. Captain Williams has since returned and sent
Schneider to-day the telegram of which you have received a copy. It was not
advisable for His Britannic Majesty’s Consul at Bunder Abbas to in any way
identify himself with the case outwardly, but the opinion has been expressed by
him that a breach of the Quarantine regulations was undoubtedly committed
by the Russian Munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. , who is of an assertive character and notoriously quarrel
some and that in that connection the Doctor’s authority should be supported,
but that the Doctor weakened his case as regards the assault by not immediately
proceeding on boardship and allowing Ovseenko to forestall him. I agree with
Williams that it was incumbent on Ovseenko to first comply with the necessary
and reasonable demand of the Quarantine officer, and having done so, to proceed
afterwards to argue the case. It is to be remembered that there is no force at the
disposal of Quarantine Doctors so that it is the more necessary that the Sanitary
Council should support their personal authority in enforcing the regulations and
it is to be hoped that they will assume the attitude recommended by
Williams and hold that the Consul was in the wrong. Apart from this I hardly
think that this particular case originating between two natives is important or
strong enough by itself to warrant official diplomatic action, but please see
my letter, dated 9th March, No. 27, and previous papers with regard^tq the general
attitude of the Russian Consulate towards Quarantine. Meanwhile. Captain
Williams has left for Bunder Abbas and good may result from a frank interview
with Ovseenko.
(Enclosure No. 9.)
Copy of a telegram No. 40, dated 29th March 1907, from Sir Cecil Spring
Rice, K.C.M.G., His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran, to Major
P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
With reference to the Quarantine incident, please warn Captain Williams
that he should be conciliatory and that he should drop the case if it is not good.
We must hit to kill when we hit at all.
(Enclosure No. 10.)
Copy of despatch No. 47 — 850, dated 23rd April 1907, from Major P. Z.
Cox, C.I.E., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , to Sir Cecil Spring
Rice, K.CM.G., His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran.
With reference to the correspondence ending with your telegram No. 40, dated
29th March, on the subject of the quarantine incident connected with the S.S.
“ Madura ” while in port at Bunder Abbas, I have the honour to trans
mit for your information a copy of a statement furnished to Captain Williams,
Chief Quarantine Officer, by the Captain of the steamer.
I must explain in this regard that Captain Williams had to leave Bushire
on the same day on which he received Assistant Surgeon Montgomery s tele
graphic report of the incident, and that when the S.S. “ Madura ’ touched at