File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎340v] (685/804)

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disposed to join in the war, but be demanded the fulfilment of certain con
ditions (I cannot say what these were) from Germany and Turkey.
“ Now all officers wish to leave Kabul, as one day the Amir says he is for
us and the next against us. Twice before this Niedermeyer had made up his
mind to leave, but each time the Amir detained him by giving positive
assurances, but again backed out of them. Before my departure from Herat
I received a letter from Niedermeyer saying there was no hope and that we
must all leave. I left for Ispahan, but I do not know if they have left or not.
Niedermeyer also stated in his letter to me that the Amir was unwilling to let
them go in case circumstances should change and Afghanistan should declare
war, in which case they—the German officers—would be necessary to him.
“ On leaving Herat I obtained the consent of the Governor, but declined
any pass as the mirza might talk about it to others and the British Agent would
also come to know of it, in which case I might be cought by the Bussian
Cossacks at Kariz or the British mounted troops.
“ At Herat I saw 13 Austrian escaped prisoners, and it is said that there
are over 50 of them at Kabul.
“ From Herat I rode by Daulatabad, near Turbat-i-Shaikb Jam, and passed
three farsakhs to the south of Turbat-i-Haidari, thence to Inzi, whence I
struck the main track from Turshiz to Tabas. (I omitted to say that from
Berlin an Indian Prince, with whose name I am not acquainted, accompanied
us to Afghanistan.)
“ On this last occasion I was accompanied by my Turkish servant and
interpreter Ismail and by another servant, also a Turk, named Amin. At
Tabas I, together with my two servants and a chance Persian guide, was
arrested. Ismail escaped at Tabas, after which the remaining three of us
were sent to Bushruyeh, and handed over there to Cossacks. Two days later,
i.e.t one stage before Tun, my servant Amin and the Persian guide escaped.
“ I may add that the terms on which the Amir consented to take part in the
. N.B.-U* actually said si*. war we r® es P osed in a lon S c ypher tele-
gram of ten* pages, despatched to Berlin
if I am not mistaken in February of the current year. When I twice pro
ceeded to Isfahan and to Tehran, I followed the following route: from Yazdan
to Duhuk, Tabas, Shurab, and Pulband, but there were .Russians about and I
was obliged to turn off southwards. I returned by the same route. The
second time, when going to Tehran, I travelled by Kuhsan to Sharifabad
whence I proceeded by the main road in post-waggon. On my return journey
I again passed by the post-road to Sharifabad, and thence by Kuhsan.”
WILLIAM PASCHEN.
The above is the exact translation of Paschen’s statement, taken down in
my presence by a Secretary of the Bussian Consulate-General. It is not a
matter of very great importance, but he distinctly stated that he had twice
gone to Ispahan from Herat and once to Tehran and I so reported it originally.
It appears, however, possible that he counted the journey on which he was
captured as his second journey to Ispahan.
Paschen told us that his journey to Tehran took place in December of
last year and that the “ Contract,” of the contents of which he was ignorant,,
was sent io Berlin last February, but he has since stated otherwise to the
Bussian Military Agent who has interrogated him on several occasions and
who states that each time he becomes more talkative.
He last stated that he left Herat on the 18th December for Tehran where
he handed the “ Contract ” to his brother for conveyance to Berlin. Of the
detailed contents he was unaware, but he professed to know (possibly he had
heard from JN iedermeyer) that in it the Amir haa bound himself to—
(1) fortify Kabul and a number of frontier points in accordance with
the demands of German officers;
(2) increase the establishment of the army ;
(3) introduce a new system of organization on the advice of
Niedermeyer.