File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎271r] (189/1080)

Meshed Diary No. 16, for the period ending the 5th June 1922.
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Transcaspia.
1. Jemal Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and 15 Turks arrived at Askhabad on the 8th May. Many
officials were at the train to meet them. Jemal Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. made a speech in which he
stated that he and his party were going to Afghanistan to persuade their Afghan
brothers not to war against the Bolsheviks, as other Powers were making it
difficult for the Afghans to remain friendly with the Russians. He mentioned
that at present all was not as it should be on the frontier at Kushk. He hoped
that he would be successful in his mission.
2. Unconfirmed reports state that there have already been skirmishes between
the Russians and Afghans on the frontier near Kushk.
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3. Cholera, already reported as raging along the Volga, and in most parts of
Central Russia, has commenced in Turkestan. The Persian Consul at Askhabad
has informed Tehran to this effect. Report received by the Karguzar, Meshed,
says there are 7 or 8 cases a day in Askhabad, but the disease is not increasing.
4. Food supplies throughout Turkistan are decreasing rapidly, and on this
account there is much discontent amongst the troops, who are underfed.
Refugees receive a very small ration of bread in most places, but it is insufficient
to keep them alive, and many succumb to starvation.
5. The Bolsheviks have issued an order that the coming harvest is not to be
reaped without permission. Cultivators disobeying this order will be severely
punished. Turkomans from Merv, Bairam Ali, Kushk and Takhta Bazar have
petitioned Tashkent to be exempted from the order, on account of their extreme
poverty. Failing exemption they intend to request the Afghan Government to
help them.
6. Bolshevik papers hold forth on the friendship existing between the British
and Russians, and it is also common talk among the troops. In contradiction to
this, all people who are suspected of being British agents are shot without delay
by the Bolsheviks.
7. Askhabad May 18th. —Orders have been received from Tashkent that
Turks and Armenian's should be expelled from the Police service, and Russians
and Turkomans employed.
8. Previous reports about the movements of Bolshevik troops from Central
Russia through Krasnovodsk are confirmed from Askhabad. Troops were
proceeding to Kushk, Bokhara and Samarkand. No passengers were allowed to
travel for 10 days prior to the 18th May.
9. The Propaganda Department is under the direction of Khan Talsih
Manaffzada; 40 to 50 men are employed. Muhammadan women also have
a committee, the leader of which is Ab-i-Hayat Khanam (vide No. 6, paragraph 7).
There are no marriage laws and women are unveiled.
10. May 25th. —The Extraordinary Commission has been ordered by Moscow
to send agents to Persia, to report on the fighting strengths, arms and ammunition
of the Persian troops and tribes, giving names of tribal leaders. They are also
to report on supplies, camping grounds, and any information of military
importance. (It is understood that all pre-war records have either been lost or 7
destroyed.)
11. Lutfabad, May 2&A.—Bolsheviks have increased their garrisons at Tejend,
Dushak and Sarakhs, owing to the rebel attacks on these places.
12. From the 23rd to 26th May, 4 trains carrying 2,000 troops, 5 large guns,
14 small guns, 2 machine guns, motor cars and lorries passed proceeding to
Bokhara. ENG. in INDIA FOREIGN
S221F-D
•SECRETARY’S NO 43 M;
DATED JUL
. 24 JUl 1 ©??.