File 52/1912 Pt 3 'Persia Diaries' [‎39v] (89/1128)

r i
n
K ■il
■ IK
/
Herat and Afghanistan.
369 Germans and adherents.-?!o activities are reported. Kazjm Beg
unsuccessfully tries to explain away the communiques which are said to be
producing an^xcellent effect. The news now on its way to Herat will afford
a fine scope for his inventive faculties. _ * it
370. Afghan attitude. -The recent European arrivals from Herat all
a ^ree that the attitude of all Afghans whom they met on the ^ay to and at
Herat was stronglv Turcophile. They are all extremely eulogistic of their
treatment by the Afghans, Gatzke, in particular, evincing very warm
gratitude. . . . »
371 Converts .— The three Russian converts to Islam, the principal or
whom is one Captain Slivitzki, formerly chief of stall at Kushk, and apparent y
of Bolshevik tendencies, are said to have definitely decided to renounce any
idea of return to Russia. t
372. Military.— The Naib Salar was still absent on the 24th tiltimo. He
was stated to be very busy in attending to documents sent for his attention.
Cavalry have been sent in relief to the Bala Murghab and Anardarrah frontier.
There was difficulty in finding a relief for Gulran and Ghurian detachments
owing to the employment of men on the collection of revenue.
Russian Turkistan.
373. Current events.—It is probable that Merv will be found to have
been cleaned out by the Boisheviks as they have been reported to have been
sending away as much grain and produce as possible. The Turkoman have
succeeded in hiding most of their supplies, but it may be found exceedingly
difficult to induce them to part with the residue alter their recent famine
experiences.
The Tashkent Bolshevik Government has been sending very despairing;
messages to Moscow, asking for urgent assistance. This is in shaip contrast j
with their boastful claims to victories. If the Orenburg route remains sealed,
there is little doubt that their plight will be a sufficiently desperate one, but
Bolshevik successes to the north of Orenburg point to the- possibility of this|
route being opened, in which case many complications will he introduced.
Relations between the Turkoman and the Transcaspian Government have
recently been acutely strained. The latter who appear to have adopted an
unwisely arrogant attitude have now eased matteis by apparently equally unuise
concessions. The question is complicated by jealousies between various
Turkoman leaders and will undoubtedly require careful and judicious treat
ment in the future.
The Transcaspian financial situation owing to reckless expenditure and
to the fact that no income is available is acute. *
Native reports state that unarchy prevails in the districts, and complain
that they are no better treated by the Mensheviks than by the Boisheviks.
Two of our messengers have recently been killed in Transcaspia, and the
family of one of our adherents complains that their frontier village has been
plundered by the Mensheviks of what the Bolsheviks had left them. In thi&
case it is probable that marauding bands are to blame.
E. A E. REEL, Lieut.-Colonel,
G. S. 0 L
Meshed :
The 2nd November 1918.
}
]U
J*
w
■ '>
-
SGPIJDelbi— 255 CG?—9-12-18—45.