File 2908/1907 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf:- Quarantine; German complaint’ [‎114v] (228/250)

on the Persian coast, by the Sanitary ttetrit^b
nronosed it is desirable that endeavour should be made by the jdut.sti
Delegation to defeat the project by dwellms on its inutility from a
Snitmv point of view and on the obstructions to commerce which it
must necessarily occasion. It is true that His Majesty's Government
accepted the proposal of the Venice Convention for a sanitary station at
Ormuz. But since 1897 the practical difficulties of giving effect to the
stipulation of the Convention regarding it ami ol securing an agiecnien
on P the point between the Persian and the Ottoman Governments have
proved insurmountable, while experience has shown that the measures
alreadv in force at Persian ports are amply sufficient for the safety or
the Persian littoral. If, however, the Conference should decide that a
sta tion is reqaired at or near Ormuz, the necessary arrangements can best
he carried out by the sanitary authorities charged with t.ie protection
of the Persian ports, and not by the Ottoman Sanitary Board. Ine
British Delegation might be instructed to press for this.
Should an entirely new set of proposals be made at the Conieience.
Dr. Clemow lias accurately stated the main considerations which should
cruide the British Delegation. It is desirable that any such proposals
should be referred for examination to His Majesty’s Government and to
the Indian Government before the British delegates commit themselves
in any way to acceptance of them.
The Under Secretary of State,
I have, &e.,
Horace Walpoli
Foreign Office.
Enclosure No. 3.
India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. to Eoreign Office.
B. and S. 2925. India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ,
Sir, 17th November 1903.
I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 11th November 1903,
forwarding a leport, No. 12, dated 7th November, by the British
delegates at the Paris Sanitary Conference regarding certain points on
which they desire instructions.
It is understood that the points have been discussed between the
medical advisers of the Local Government Board and Mr. de Bunsen
and Dr. Clemow, at a meeting at which a representative of this Office
was present, and Mr. Brodrick is content to leave the decision of the
several technical questions dealt with under the head of “ General
technical conclusions and the rat question,” to the Foreign Office.
With regard to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. question, I am to refer you to the
letter B. and S. 2821 of 14th instant, and to suggest that the proposal
which, it is understood, is to he made to the Conference, that the Mixed
Commission be invited to provide funds for the construction of a lazaret
at Ormuz, should he opposed by the British delegates. The cost of
constructing and maintaining the station would he very considerable,
and would operate as an impost on shipping, while experience has
shown that the station is not required for the sanitary protection of
the Gulf. A much more urgent matter for the consideration of the
Constantinople Board of Health is the improvement of their sanitary
station at Bussorah, which has been frequently reported to he
inadequately maintained.
\> ith regard to the project for the establishment of an International
Health Bureau, I am to say that, in the absence of information as to
the purpose which the Bureau is intended to serve, or of evidence that
it is required, the Secretary of State for India is of the opinion of the