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'Middle East. Turco-Bolshevik Activities: Note by Political Intelligence Officer attached to India Office.' [‎87r] (7/8)

The record is made up of 1 file (4 folios). It was created in 10 Dec 1920. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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can they achieve their purpose in the face of England’s attitude towards Turkey and
her strong position in the East. The foundation of their plan rests on the Nationalist
movement. The Bolsheviks are fully alive to the danger, and will do everything
possible to prevent the success of the Unionist plans, but are ready to use them as a
means of anti-British activity. The Soviet Government also desires to replace the
present Government of Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. by a Communistic Government, and are striving hard
to accomplish this. Mustafa Kemal, having been committed to a far greater extent
than he desired in his relations with Russia, is striving hard not to offend his ally,
and at the same time to keep her at a distance. His position, however, is becoming
increasingly difficult through the Bolshevik-Unionist organisations in the country
itself, and the infiltration of Bolshevik agents. Unless the position of Mustafa Kemal
and the non-Bolshevik party be strengthened considerably in the near future, there is
a grave danger of complete Bolshevik control eventuating.
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. ,
10th December 1920.
APPEND! X.
Plenipotentiary of the H.S.E.S.R. in Georgia,
No. 91047. Tiflis. 5th October 1920.
Preliminary Instructions for Work in the Batum Province.
General Political Situation in Transcaucasia.
Our Government has decided to abandon the idea of forcible intervention in
Armenia (1), and has instructed our representative Legrand to organise a powerful
communist party in that country through the medium of which we hope to attain our
desired objects.
According to information which we have received, Georgia, in order to save
herself from the wave of Turkish advance, is prepared to treat with Mustafa Kemal,
whereby she will undertake to refrain from rendering any assistance to Armenia.
This fact points to her weakness and unpreparedness for war.
All questions affecting our eastern policy among the Mussulman (Adjar)
population of the Batum province will be dealt with by Comrade Stark, who will
give you necessary instructions. I would ask you to collect and forward to me all
material regarding the violation by the Georgians of Article 5 of the agreement.
It is impossible to count on the penetration of our Soviet troops into Georgian
territory, as this is not feasible at the present moment. We must attain our
rights here, not by force of arms, but by developing a powerful propaganda, and by
strengthening our organisations. It is, therefore, essential that you take the following
action:—
(1) Organise a provincial communist party.
(2) Organise a secret communist battalion of combatants, selecting your men
from among the brigade of Georgian railway conductors, the workmen in the Batum
railway shops and the Ardahan garage, as also among the Georgian troops.
(3) Form a combatant communist group among the workmen employed in the
forest concessions controlled by the All-Russia Central Union {Centro Soyuz).
(4) Afford as strong material and moral support as possible to all organisations
working against the Georgian Government.
(5) Organise the distribution of literature of a simple and comprehensible nature
throughout the entire province.
(6) Organise a permanent, reliable and regular method of communication between
Novorossisk, the Crimea, Trebrzond and Constantinople.
(7) Select competent individuals to supervise the mobilisation of sailors lor the
reformation of our Novorossisk fleet (the Batum Sailors' Union should co-operate
in this.
(8j Organise communist propaganda in the region of Rizeh and 1 rebizond as a
set-off to pro-British and pro-French sympathies among the population.
(9) Organise military and political intelligence withiji the Batum province and
as far as Trebizond inclusive, such intelligence to be in addition to any organisation-

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Content

A political note in five sections, entitled:

  • The Turkish Unionists (C.U.P.) [Committee of Union and Progress]
  • The Bolshevik Attitude
  • Armenia
  • The Anatolian Nationalists
  • Conclusion

The author, Major Norman Napier Evelyn Bray, discusses the political motivations and relationships of the major forces in Central Asia and the Caucasus, and suggests that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk be strengthened lest the Bolsheviks seize control of the region.

An appendix reproduces a Bolshevik document which gives instructions to develop Bolshevik propaganda and institutions in Georgia.

Extent and format
1 file (4 folios)
Arrangement

This file consists of a note divided into five sections (ff 84-87), followed by an appendix (f 87)

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at folio 84 and terminates at folio 87; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located at the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Middle East. Turco-Bolshevik Activities: Note by Political Intelligence Officer attached to India Office.' [‎87r] (7/8), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B360, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100029480031.0x000008> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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