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'The Russians in Akhal' [‎37v] (26/68)

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The record is made up of 1 file (34 folios). It was created in Mar 1882. 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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26
will stay until December next, keeping a watch
over the Yomud and Teke Turcomans.”
And further (Turkestan Gazetteer), that. ^
‘‘ General Lomakin, commanding trans-Caspian,
intends to pacify the Tek6 Turcomans by means ot
three military expeditions; one starting irom
Ckikishlar to the Attrek, and another from Michael
Bay to the Little Balkhan Hills.
“ General Lomakin considers that these measuies
will awe the Turcomans, for the Bussian column
will advance from 100 to 200 versts towards the
Teke forts, which will show the Turcomans that the
Russian troops can, at all times, come suddenly
upon them in their encampments.”
Lord Augustus Loftus informed Her Majesty s
Government that General Lomakin had decided on
a “small” expedition against theT6k6Turcomans
but, referring later to this matter, Lord A. Loftus
observed that these military plans were projected at
a date (February) “anterior to the late instructions
“ forwarded to the Grand Duke Michael by express
" orders of the Emperor,” which orders were in
prohibition of any military expedition.
It was thrmigh Mr. Thomson that Her Majesty s
Government was apprised of the Russian occupation
of “ Bvat-i-Haji,” on which occasion “ the Russians
“ advanced without opposition through the pastures
of the Yomuds, from whom they got camels and
<£ all needful aid.”
And it was through the same channel that lier
Majesty’s Government were informed of the Russian
occupation of the fort of Karri-Kala,* a place
tributary to Persia since 1869 (1860 ?).
In the beginning of July it was publicly an
nounced that General Lomakin had started on the
1st of June, with three battalions of infantry and
some Cossacks, on an expedition, to meet a force
under General Ivanof from the Oxus, which was
a crain striking terror into the turbulent bands of
Teke and other Turcomans, and that, on his way
back. General Lomakin would erect a few small
forts! The forts which he intended to erect were
not alone along the line of the old bed of the Oxus,
between Krasnovodsk and Khiva, but also in the
Attrek valley; but allusion to this was not made
until after the termination of the expedition.
It was given out that the sole object to be
accomplished on this occasion was the exploration
of the old bed of the Oxus, but the Russian Invalid
raised a war cry against the Teke Turcomans in
the following proclamation:—
“ The turbulent Turcoman tribes are not amenable
to our influence; protected by surrounding deserts,
proud in their independence, and considering them-
■selves unconquerable, seeing that all former attempts
made by Persia, Khiva and Bokhara to subdue them
have been unavailing, the Tdkds have assumed a
defiant attitude towards Russia. Our calls upon
them to discontinue their depredations, and our
demands for the release of the artillery soldier whom
1874.
Abstract, No. CXII., December 1874.
Lord A. Loftus to Lord Derby, 9th De
cember 1874.
Foreign Office Letter, 7th June 1875.
Henvey’s Precis, 1872—75.
Memorandum on the East Alburz tract by
the Honourable G. C. Napier.
Telegram from Mr. Thomson to Lord
Derby, 7th, 8th, and 14th December 1874.
Sir E. Hertslet’s Foreign Office Memo
randum p. 24, 1877.
* With 600 men and 2 guns.
Napier’s Reports.
1875.
Abstract, No. X., 1st July 1875.
Abstract, No. XI., August 1875

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Content

The memorandum is divided into four parts. The first part (folios 26-41) outlines Russian activities and aims in the Trans-Caspian region from 1716-1880; it narrates the extension of Russian influence over the Turcoman [Turkmen] tribes in the region to their eventual absorption into the Russian Empire to form part of Transcaspia. As a result it includes information concerning Russian military expeditions and various efforts made by them to coerce the Turcomen tribes into becoming Russian subjects, and some of the Turcoman efforts to resist. More especially it includes details on the establishment of a Russian naval base at Ashurada and the Russian occupation of Krasnovodsk [Turkmenbashi].

The second part (folios 42-48) concerns attempts by the Turcoman tribes to seek the protection of either Afghanistan or Persia. It includes a translation of a document (folios 44v-47) sent by Adul Hassan Khan, Governor of Kuchan, to Rukn-ud-dowla, Governor of Khorassa, which concerns the submission of the Teke tribes of Atamish and Tokhtamest to Persia; a Russian take on the situation claiming that the tribes rejected the Persian offer is included alongside. The terms of an agreement between the Shah of Persia and the Merv [Mary] Teke — in which the latter become Persian subjects — is located on folios 47v-48.

The third part (folios 49-52) focuses on the attempts by the Amir of Afghanistan, Shrere-Ali-Khan [Sher Ali Khan], to seek British protection against Russian aggression; the Amir is concerned that a Russian advance on the Merv would be a prelude to an attack on Afghanistan, or that the Russians may pursue any retreating Turcoman into Afghanistan.

The fourth and final part (folios 53-58) outlines Persia's efforts to secure its northern frontier against Russian encroachment, and the interventions that the British have made to assist with this resistance. It also discusses diplomatic exchanges to affect a joint Anglo-Russian agreement to maintain the integrity of Persia.

Extent and format
1 file (34 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at f 25, and terminates at f 58, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the item also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

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English in Latin script
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'The Russians in Akhal' [‎37v] (26/68), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/C78, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025852016.0x00001b> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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