File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎372v] (392/1080)

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Appendix IV.
The following Note has been furnished by a Russian until lately occupy, a*
the position of Chief of a branch of the Special Department in
mg
Transcaspia:—
THE BOLSHEVIK SYSTEM OE FOREIGN ESPIONAGE (PEKSIA).
In Soviet Russia foreign military espionage is supervised by an Intelli-
gence Directorate attached to the various staffs. This Directorate was formerly
known as the Information and Registration Department.
In connection with this Directorate, a school has been established which
affords six months’ courses of instruction in the principles of foreign espionage.
The demonstrators and instructors are Germans especially engaged for the
purpose in Germany. The scheme of instruction is essentially based on the
development of the powers of intrigue of an individual. Thus, the school
turns out trained agents for foreign espionage and officers for the Intelligence
services operating in the frontier zones of the Republic. In addition to this
passed graduates are attached as secretaries to diplomatic and commercial
missions. Only pupils having not less than three years’ connection with the
Party (that is, the Communist Party.— Trans.) are accepted and a further
condition is that they must be well recommended by responsible Bolsheviks.
Jews and Letts are accepted by preference, and, to a much less degree,
Russians with a knowledge of foreign languages.
In Turkestan, the principal branch of the Intelligence Directorate is
situated in Tashkent and is attached to the Staff of the Turkfront. There is
there also another, but similar, school where groups consisting of not more
than five to six pupils at a time are accepted.
Pupils with a knowledge of Eastern languages are entered at these estab
lishments.
In every frontier town of Turkestan ^here is an intelligence ‘‘point”
consisting of a chief and a secretary. The duties of such a chief lie in enlist
ing spies, scouts, etc , and in sending them across the frontier.
Agents serving abroad are divided into three categories: {i) Residents in
a town of a foreign State who, being on the spot, are able to employ agents
for procuring information, (ii) Recruiting agents whose duties are to enrol sucb
resident agents. (Hi) Couriers, appointed to act as links between the frontier
point and the resident agents.
The pay of foreign agents varies with their work. Minor individuals are
paid from 30 to 150 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. (at present rates of exchange £6 to £30). Minor
officials and priests, 150 to 250 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a month, and members of administra
tive or directional offices of a foreign State, from 250 to 450 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. (£50 to
£90) a month.
Where possible, the Bolsheviks have been remunerating their agents with
the medium of merchandise which is entrusted to couriers who smuggle it
across the frontier. (This is with especial reference to operations in Persia
where a long, poorly, guarded, and rugged frontier makes such peculiarly
feasible.— Trans.) The j merchandise takes the form of raw silk, carpets,
manufactured goods, and karakul skins.
All agents employed by the English in Persia and who conduct corres*
pondence via Meshed, either through the Consulate or through the medium
of Indian residents, are known in Russia to the authorities.
The families of agents sent abroad by Soviet agencies remain under secret
surveillance and are regarded as hostages and guarantees for the returu to
Russia of their principals.