File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎273v] (194/1080)

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APPENDIX II.
8tate?nent made by Muhammad Tagi Bey, son of the late Shah Mirza, Kush Begi (Prime Minister)
to the ex-Amir of Bokhara, and taken by the Khan Bahadur at His Britannic Majesty's Consu
late, Meshed, on the 1st June 1922.
“ I was attendant to the Amir and escaped to Baisun when Bokhara fell to the Bolsheviks
From Baisun I was sending supplies to the Amir until arrested by the Bolsheviks who took
me to Karshi where 11 other Bokharan leaders were in custody. Later all of us were taken to
Bokhara, and there some of the party were shot, and the remainder, including myself, released
after two or three months.
I was forced to enter the Bolshevik service, and was detailed to collect revenue from
Baisun, Shirabad, Termez and Kirki. Subsequently I was placed in charge of departments at
Kirki, from where I obtained permission to proceed to Meshed on pilgrimage. Whilst I was
in custody at Bokhara, my property was confiscated by the Bolsheviks, with the exception
of one house, which I sold and remitted the proceeds to Meshed through Bokharan merchants
at the rate of 1 million Bokharan roubles to 15 krans. I have no intention of going back to
Bokhara, and my brother who is now there is also waiting an opportunity to get away, either
on the pilgrimage excuse, or escape through the rebels who would not interfere with his escape
to Afghanistan.
Enver Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. came to Bokhara and was at first well received by the Bolsheviks. After
a few days he heard that he was to be arrested, so arranged to go out shooting with three other
officers (one of whom was Ali Reza Bey ^fffendi) and managed their escape in this way, even
tually reaching Hissar, the centre of the rebels. At Ilissar Enver Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. soon talked over the
leaders of the rebels to his way of thinking, and gradually worked himself in to become the
Chief of the Rebels. Enver controls all operations, and has such influence over the rebels that
even a baby would fight against the Bolsheviks.
Surrayya Effendi who was in Afghanistan before the fall of Bokhara, returned to Hissar
after the Bolshevik occupation and when the rebels commenced the counter-revolution, he
joined them, and afterwards went to Enver.
The strength of the rebels in the Hissar area is 11,000, and they are scattered in groups
t . an< ^ u P war ds. The rebel centre is at Baisun, and the Bolshevik centres are at Guzar and
Shahr-i-Sabz. The opposing parties advance from their centres, and meet half way, when
battles are fought, and then both parties retire to their centres. The guns and ammunition
winch the Amir had taken with him when he escaped from Bokhara, are now in the hands of
the rebels, and the rebels have captured many more from the Bolsheviks.
a rBolsheviks are now sending forces to the Russo-Afghan frontier, to Kushk, Kirkee
and Kilif. Between Kihf and Termez there is a force of rebels who prevent Bolshevik steamers
from passing.
Afghanistan is also sending troops to the frontier dailv.
18 n °^ ^he rebels openly, but Afghans were being crossed over the
Af i i , ? lr arms m oyernment boats, which means that they are being sent deliberately,
ghamstan is also persuading the Qadgan and Turkomans to join the rebels.
t as re hels are attacking from 4 places at a distance
and BmZq ( } ° m ^ ^ The rebels °P erate flora Kermana « Nurata > Usti »
retire from ^ a( j cor( ling to the instructions issued by Enver Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , i.e., when they
W the BolshelT? f etacllme ? t 2°™ in from another and egages the Bolsheviks, in which
way tne Bolsheviks are being continually attacked.
plies. u PPh es are plentiful with the rebels, but the Bolsheviks are badly in need of sup-
0^“^^ COmmissar a ‘ Bok ^ received a letter from a relative of his at
wmr saying that there was a scarcity of food, and water was running short.
are beina constantlv sent P lt - Enver ' s m correspondence with him, and messengers
the Amir with ° f the ™ ^ ^
(whoSi^ that ‘V™ had Ta *=«
of Great Britain and flip Pc.n - + J ^ mir ) London, and he had an interview with theKmg
obtained from Ka^ ™ “
Government were* mTccord wlth tl^ 4 .? days ag0 a stat ement saying that the Afghan
working against the So““t Go"i t SdT * T‘ h ^ ‘ 0 tha * date ' “ T
Bolshevik^” 'eminent, and were sending men to join the rebels against the
Note. Muhammad Tagi Bey left Kirkee about three weeks ago, i.e.; 11th May 1922.
G. M. Press, Simla.—No. S-221-F.D.—4-7-22 14 M.D.
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