'Correspondence respecting the occupation of Merv by Russia and her proceedings on the Khorassan Frontier of Persia.' [‎120v] (22/26)

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of fOtorassan, Asterabad, the Caspian Provinces,
and Azerbijan .. , , ,, ,
Lord Granville answered that we should be pre
pared to make representations at St. Petershurgh,
and promised to let him have a short memorandum
of his reply in writing.
Maleom Khan said that he hoped the memo
randum would be worded as strongly as ciicum-
stances would admit, as otherwise the Shah would
be greatly discouraged, and would be impelled
to throw himself completely into the hands of
Russia.*
So far as is known in this Office nothing more
has passed on the subject. Prom a despatch just
received from Mr. Thomson,! however, the defec
tion from Persia of the Salor Turkomans residing
at Zoorabad appears to be an accomplished fact.
These Turkomans were permitted some years ago
to establish themselves at that place, as the Shah
was desirous of restoring to cultivation the adjacent
lands, then deserted, but a declaration in writing
was first taken from them to the effect that they
would consider’ themselves Persian subjects. But
the fact of other Salor Turkomans residing on
the right bank of the Ileri-Itud having accepted
Russian allegiance seems to have induced them to
depart from their engagements and abandon their
lands and dwellings.
According to reports from Meshed they proceeded
to Kaleh Khoushid immediately on Alikhanoffs
arrival there, declared for Russian subjection, were
warmly welcomed, and returned to Pul-i-Khatun,
where, a few days later, upon a demand from them
for protection against the Persians, 50 Cossacks
were sent and remained. The number of the Salors
who have gone over to the Russians is stated at
3,000 families, only their Chief, Mengeli Khan,
with his own immediate followers, some 10 or 12
families, having remained in Persia.
The Governor of Sarakhs having sent to Alikhanoff
to inquire, in the first place, what right he had to
come to Kaleh Khoushid, and what was his business
there, and, secondly, why he had seduced away the
Salor Turkomans who were Persian subjects, the
Russian replied that he was acting under in
structions from his Government in going to Kaleh
Khoushid, and as to the Salors, they were formerly
settled on what was now Russian soil which they
had only left on account of local feuds; he had
not seduced them away; they had come of their
own accord, and it was the practice that a Govern
ment should afford protection to all those who
sought an asylum on its territory; whatever the
Govei nor of Sarakhs had to say had better be made
known to the Shah, so that he might communicate
with the Emperor of Russia on the subject.
Alikhanoff added the significant statement that
two messengers had already come to him from the
Sank Turkomans of Panjdeh* to ask for Russian
protection, but that, pending a reference to the
Emperor, he had taken no steps in the matter.
* Lord Granville to Mr. Thomson, 19th
July 1884, No. 89.
Asia; Sect. 270.
| No. 107, dated 8th July 1884.
X Fo1 ' recent correspondence with Russia
as to Panjdeh, see Memorandum, dated 29tb
July 1884 (pp. 21 and 22). The Amir has
lately appoined Aminulla Khan, son of Khan
Aga Jamshidi (put to death by Ayub Khan
in 1880) to be Governor of the district, but
up to the latter part of June he had not
arrived at his post, having stopped on the
Upper Murghab. This, according to the
Meshed Agent’s Herat correspondent, is
ascribed to the great influence exerted by the
Russians over the Sariks of Panjdeh by
means of tbeir brethren at Yolatan, though
the Panjdeh people still profess to be loyal
subjects of Afghanistan. See letter from
Meshed Agent, 5th July lb84, sent to Viceroy
° b >' Mr. Thomson, 18th July.A.
A. W. M. J