Coll 28/112A ‘Persia. Tabriz – Monthly despatches of internal situation in Azerbaijan & misc. reports.’ [‎563r] (1128/1237)

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and beams and some glass panes and other things from their latest
loot of uninhabited villages* The cars stopped at once. With
Colonel lelivanov and other Trussian officers we shouted and
threatened the horsemen, who were preparing to stand or to run
away, to come forward*
13* By means of Hftlld Khan of Tabriz, who was with us, and one
of the Russian officers who knew Turki, we questioned them and
it appeared that theywsre taking their loot from the ourroundlng
villages* ‘Then Colonel Selivanov objected to the head of the
Kurds and threatened him that if plundering were repeated the
Red Army would begin operations against the "urds, the headman
expressed obedience and promised from the morrow to refrain
from plundering* The gear they ’?ere taking away with them they
threw on the ground and went off to their own places* . Mle we
were busy talking rith this group of Turds and tanking investig
ations, other 'urdiah groups, horse and foot, were watching
from various distances. lien we left there, they also left
tower ’s their villages* Persian villages on the road such as
Cave Inn, larghalou, Ohoonqaralon, etc* to the vicinity of
Rezaieh town were all empty of inhabitants and rdined*
14* Seeing this pitiful landscape, where a fearful calm reigned
from end to end showed that once again those same bl&odstained
rebels and evil persons, who have not sr'ailed? the slightest civil
isation and humanity, were coming like’ eighteen years ago to welcome
us, wdlth this difference only, that then we faced them like
enemies bravely in the combat area, while today they came before
us with the plundered goods of women and unfortunate people* Ve
a t lso with empty hands had to be ashamed towards them, an^ seeing
these unfortunate and dark days, in sorrow of heart, but in
expectation of the day of vengeance, to leave them as they were
and go* The anger and sorrow of our group was such that most
of the soldiers with us waited for orders with furious looks to
fight against a much more numerous enemy and sacrifice themselves
to rescue their fellow countrymen.
15. t 9 p*m. on the sane day v/e reached Rezaieh* At once we
made enquiries from Uajer Kamal. the Officer Commanding the
Gendarmerie of Rezaieh,and the state of affairs was such that the
Chief of the Gendarmerie of the 2nd District of Azerbaijan had
made hie report, a summary of which is submitted herewith *) Sin-
quiries of the Governor and of the Chief of lolice of Rezaieh
confirmed the Gendarmerie report.
! TaWv
16. On Friday, 8th May, at sunrise, thousands of people collected
round the Ustandar f 8 Office and some of them entered the yard*
Aith groans they complained of the excesses, the plundering, and
the raping by the Kurds. ince from tliis point there should be
no action without consent of the Russians, the Russian Consul and
Colonel Selivanov and othere were asked to come to the Ustandar’s
office. !\fter detailed discussions as to prevention of killing
and plundering by the Kurds and to re-establish security, it was
agreed that for the present there should be posts of Russians and
Gendarmerie in essential places, subject to Kurdish excesses and
plundering. Accordingly it was also agreed to prepare a notice
to comfort the refugees and plundered villagers, and in order to
give them hope in speedy action by the Government, I read it to
the crowd and each sentence was repeated in Turki to the people*
17. That evening we were invited by the Russian Commander, with
the Ustandars and officers accompanying, to the Russian Club, and
In the course of the cor&iep. reception given us again friendly
discussion took place regarding the necessary co-operation.
18. A copy of this notice will be attached for your attention.
Then by means of Ghazi Mohamad and 3ayid Abdulla, who are both
influential priests among the Kurds, advice, threats, and en
couragement were given; but considering the present serious
situation /
j