File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎333r] (313/1080)

44. The importation of commodities from Afghanistan to the riverine
port of Kilif has recently stopped entirely, probably from the want of pur
chasing power of Bolshevik currency.
45. The Afghan post opposite Kilif contains about 150 troops. The
Afghan officers stationed there and the Bolshevik officers of Kilif fraternize
considerably.
46. About 250 men are working on the railway alignment and are clear
ing the tunnel near Kilif.
47. At Patta Kesar (Termez) the once large Bolshevik force stationed
there has diminished to a small garrison. Here there is a small amount of
trade with Afghanistan. Two aeroplanes went to Afghanistan about two
months ago.
48. There is great public discontent with Bolshevik rule. A casual,
a Sart, when interrogated regarding the conditions of life in Termez turned
in the direction of the Shrine of the Imam Reza in Meshed and with much
emotion prayed for liberation from Bolshevik tyranny. The hope of release I
at the hands of Britain is now seldom given expression in Bokhara. Instead
people look to Afghanistan for release.
49. One of the principal hardships of the Bokharans is the removal of
their children for Communist education at centres distant from their homes., |
This has already been referred to and some indication of this organization
will be found in the Appendices.,
50. Turkestan .—At Tashkent the populace are hoping that the Bas
mach movement will spread to the city for then, it is believed, the whole of
the people would join it, including the Muslim troops. The belief exists
that counter-revolutionary troops under a General Bielov (probably only a
misconception of the Bolshevik designation of a “ White ” commander) are
marching on Tashkent from Siberia. The wish is possibly father to the
thought and the time of year is hardly favourable to operations in Siberia.
51. The streets of Tashkent are described as impassable owing to the
crowds of refugees who, in company of soldiers of the garrison, beg every
where for food.
52. Many witnesses from widely separated localities testify to the
existence of British uniforms among the troops. The explanation is that
these are from British dumps in the Caucasus but the suggestion is hazarded
that surplus British war stores are being bought up by speculators in Europe
and shipped to Russian ports. il
53. According to a well informed Russian resident of Meshed there are
not more than three hundred real Communists in Tashkent, a result due to
the operation of “ cleansing the party ” and to voluntary abstentions from
its midst. Those remaining, however, retain control and their decisions
are supreme. A traveller states that political denunciations—preferably
for being a British spy— are frequent and require for a conviction the evi
dence to that effect of two recognized and zealous Communists The accused
is then liable to destruction by Chinese riflemen at a place called Kriepostni
Zaut, 25 versts from the town, whereto the convicted are conveyed in motor
number 346. At this place there is a number of brick kilns to which, pre
sumably, the victim’s remains are committed.
54. The following are among some of the members of the administration
of the Turkestan Republic.
President of the Central Executive Committee of Soviets of Turkes
tan Rahimbaiev.
Secretary to the same...Ar Rai (Bengali of the Indian Revolutionary
Party?). 11
President of the National Komissars of the Turkestan Republic......
Paskutski (previously reported as General Officer Commanding
Turkfront)..