File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎332v] (312/1080)

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34. Sarakhs, December 29th and 5th January.—The reports from this
centre present a series of raids and counter-raids from Russian into Afghan
and Persian territory, the objects of the raids being invariably flocks of
sheep and of the counter-raids, reprisals for the same. A detailed account
of these predatory operations has been received but is too long for insertion
here The Bolsheviks at Kushk and Takhta Bazar, on the one side and the
Afghans at Bala Murghab on the other, seem to be the instigators of these
adventures.,
35, Karim Khan, Baloch, has again raided Zorabad in Persian terri
tory and removed two flocks of sheep.
36, Nasrulla Khan, the Governor of Zorabad ‘who, it may be remem
bered, stoutly defied Karim Khan and all Bolsheviks has been relieved of
his governorate and Shakarulla Khan appointed in his place. It is possible
thaf the independent action taken by the former has not recommended itself
to the Persian Government.
37. The now universal rumours of fresh counter-revolutionary opera
tions in Siberia have reached Sarakhs.
TRANS-FRONTIER.
38. There is little that is new to report from Transcaspia. The shop
keepers in Askhabad in accordance with the Eastern mode of protest closed
their shops , such action being dictated by the impossibility of continuing to
do business under prevailing economic conditions. As stated before, the
Bolsheviks fined them for this as indicative of the possession of too much
wealth , This apparently has not had much effect for their latest move has
been to threaten to confiscate shops that remained closed as being indicative
of the bankruptcy of the lessees or owners. Shops have accordingly been
opened but no business is being done.
39. Trains with refugees arriving at Askhabad report discarding
corpses at intermediate stations., i
40. Half the population of Kaakhka, it is said, sleep without having
had food during the day. If this is true of a place contiguous to Persia, it
must be considerably more so of places which are not so fortunately situated.
It is related that in Merv famine refugees are selling their young girls
• to the Turkmen for food.
41. It is curious that the conditions prevailing have not resulted in the
wholesale migration of populations from Russian to Persian territory. In
dications are not wanting that there is a certain tendency in this direction.
For instance, it is said that Ghulam Haidar Khan “ Juja ” (the chicken),
Governor of Bala Murghab, has intimated that Turkmen settlers would be
welcomed while cases have occurred of whole communities of Jamshedis re
turning to their native Afghanistan under the pressure of circumstances
in Russian territory. There is a steady trickle of Russians into Meshed, as
well as of Persian subjects in far greater numbers. The former have come,
however, on official, or supposedly official, or trade, missions.
42. Bokhara .—According to the evidence of a man discharged from a
Bokharan unit conditions in this Republic are considerably easier. Although
the price of commodities stands at many thousand roubles per unit measure,
nevertheless, there is very much more of everything procurable.
43. It is believed that negotiations are proceeding between the Bokharan
and Turkestan Republics for the cession to the former of the steamboat
service on the Amu Darya. Such is possible for the craft remaining
serviceable are practically useless. Besides, to do so would be to give the
Bolsheviks material for an inflated proclamation in their press wherewith
to impress the other deluded “ republics ,r . Had the Bokharan Republic a
sheet of salt water the gift would be proclaimed as a whole navy.