Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎208r] (415/644)

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found it impossible to move the Iranian authorities from this position, or to
induce them to sanction the agreed arrangement, without prejudice to the
future, during the tenure of his post by the new doctor, who had come to Meshed
on that understanding. In August a note was received stating that the Iranian
-Jt' Government could not grant Captain O’Connor a medical licence because they
had taken a general decision that no licences should in future be granted to
doctors attached to foreign consulates. Further reference to this decision is made
in paragraph 140 below.
93. In June His Majesty’s consul-general at Meshed reported that
Dr. O’Connor was giving his services regularly at the American Mission
Hospital, and that the head of it, Dr. Hoffman, took the view that it was
unnecessary for Dr. O’Connor to possess any licence for the purpose of assisting
him in the hospital. Dr. O’Connor stated that this arrangement gave him
f enough work to keep his hand in. It was considered judicious to inform the head
of the Third Political Department of it orally; M. Ansarie made no adverse
comment, but later, when Dr. O’Connor learned that his application for a
licence, made before he was aware of the Iranians going back on their assurance,
had been refused, he felt that it would be unwise to continue practising gratis
at the American hospital until the Iranian authorities had given formal sanction.
94. The United States Charg6 d’Affaires was consulted as to the expediency
of seeking this, and he, though perfectly agreeable to Dr. O’Connor continuing
to give his services unless and until some protest was made, thought that the view
of Dr. Hoffmann should again be taken before formal sanction was sought. The
acting counsellor to His Majesty’s Legation discussed the matter with
Dr. Hoffman in November and found him reluctant to commit himself; nor had
he done so before the year ended. Dr. Hoffman had, however, elicited by private
enquiry that the objection made by the Iranian authorities to Dr. O’Connor
practising unrestrictedly was essentially political, and a part of the policy of
preventing Iranians from having dealings with foreigners in official positions.
Dr. O’Connor was due to leave Meshed permanently in February 1938, and it was
understood that the Government of India intend to replace him.
95. In the course of discussion, His Majesty’s consul-general at Meshed
raised the question of the position of the British hospital at Zabul, and suggested
that it might be desirable to forestall Iranian objection to the hospital continuing
to function by pointing out to the Iranian Government that its utility must be
much impaired by the refusal of a licence to Dr. O’Connor to practise in it, and
by enquiring whether they would prefer that we should definitely decline to treat
any of their nationals in it. The Government of India and His Majesty’s
Legation agreed that a communication on the above lines might usefully be made,
even at the risk of ending the hospital’s extra-consular staff activities. The
matter was discussed orally between the oriental secretary to His Majesty s
Legation and the head of the Third Political Department. The latter’s reply
was that a distinction could not be made between Iranians and others in the
matter of who could be patients of any doctor or hospital. The matter was not
taken further. At the close of the year the ordinary inhabitants of Zabul were
afraid to visit the hospital, but the Indian sub-assistant surgeon contined to treat
f very poor people from the neighbouring villages, and, in addition, a few police
and other officials, for venereal disease.
Consular Rearrangement.
96. In the course of the year the Government of India raised the question
of the rearrangement of consular posts in East Iran, and the suppression or
combination of some of them was under consideration up to the end of the year
between Delhi, Tehran and Meshed.
97. The vice-consulate at Birjand was the first post to come under fire.
Early in 1937 the Government of India enquired of His Majesty’s consul-general
at Meshed whether the retention of the vice-consulate was still necessary. The
Indian colony there having dwindled almost to vanishing point, His Majesty s
Legation and Mr. Squire were in agreement that there was not enough consular
work to justify the continuation of a separate post, but also that it would be a
mistake to close it down finally and entirely by disposing of the vice-consulate
building and the property of Kalateh just outside the town. An arrangement