ملف ٣٤٤٣/١٩١٤ الجزء ٢ "الحرب الألمانية: المبعوثون الألمان إلى أفغانستان" [و‎‎٩] (٤٩٠/٢٤)

{e) It seems probable that the earlier stories which reached me about
Afghan Agents buying up stocks of supplies in Sunni Khana
Tillages were incorrect not as regards the visits but as regards the
results. The Sunnis of the Julga (valley) do not wish to see any
Afghan force marching through their district mainly because it
was so badly devastated by locusts last June.
(/) The report which reached Mr. New that the Governor had issued
instructions for the arrest of Germans and other strangers was
incorrect. I particularly asked His Excellency if it was true,
and he has denied it saying that he had only impressed upon his
subordinates the necessity for prompt reports of such persons’
movements.
4. Mr. New has all this summer held an opinion about the Governor’s
sincerity and friendliness towards our Government more assured than my own,
and I must admit that His Excellency’s personal relations with all the English
in Birjand have been as pleasant of late as they were in the preceding years.
I am, however, more and more becoming converted to the view that his poli
tical sympathies are really with the Germans. In the first place he detests our
Allies the liussians, both on general and on personal grounds, and in the
second his most intimate associates, the two chief military officers and the
ex-Director of Kevenues, are undoubtedly pro-German. The soldiers
openly express their admiration for Germany, but the Finance officer
Seyid Mohsin who never discussed them in my presence, has probably
done the greatest mischief. He was doubtless sent to Birjand in the
Autumn of 1914 for the very purpose of alienating the Governor from our side.
It is rather a significant fact that when His Excellency was informed of the
British victory at Nut-al-Amarah he refrained from expressing a single word
of congratulation. He is not in my opinion benevolently neutral towards us
now, but I think that he considers himself still to be strictly and literally
neutral. If nut to any serious test I believe that he will show nis benevolence
to the other side.
Enclo. to Serial No. 106.
No. 152, dated Birjand, the 17th October 1915.
From— R. H New, Esq., His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul, Brijand,
To— Major F. B. Prideaux, C.I.E., His Britannic Majesty’s Consul for Sistan and
Kain,
I have the honour to report that under your instructions I left Birjand on
the 21st September on tour in the Julgi-i-Sunni Khaneh and Zir Kuh districts,
to visit various villages through which the German party and Herr
Paschen passed, and ascertain the general impression they created in these
districts.
2. I was accompanied by 10 of your escort and 8 Persian and Afghan
levies. I also took my Mirza, Seyid Ghulam Roza and one Ghulam of the
Vice-Consulate.
3.
Halts were made at the following places visited on the dates noted •
2 let September Aliabad
•
16 miles.
22nd
n
Isfizar
13
22nd
t>
Naozad .
16
»
23rd
ii
Dareh-i-Charm
16
it
28rd
}•
Takhtiban
14
it
24th
it
Pish Bar .
15
it
24th
a
Bashiran .
14
it
25th
it
Muharaadabad
18
a
26th
it
Gumeh
15
n
26th
it
Gulmiran.
12
a
27th
it
Gazik .
17
n
27th
it
Awaz
4
>t
28th
it
Ah Garm .
8
a
29th
ti
Taghan
16
a
29th
it
Furg
•
8
it
80th
tt
Bushkaz .
17
a
1st October
To Birjand .
•
32
it
tt