File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎393r] (433/1080)

possessions. The narrator said the audience considered the representation to
be overdone and unconvincing. One can remember similar German films
wherein Boers and British troops were the protagonists and how they failed
of all power to convince because of their ludicrous nature and want of
vraisemblance. Just such an one must have been that exhibited to the
Askhabad audience and described above.
General .—On the 31st October Shahbazov, an Armenian and postmaster
of Artik, came to Lutfabad and stated that no trains had left Tashkent for
south or north for the last 15 days, but he did not know the reason. A
Russian has reported to this office that a Meshed resident has received a
communication that according to a decree of the Bolsheviks European Russia
is entirely isolated from the rest of the Soviet dominions. An elucidation of
these happenings, if based on facts, is awaited.
BOKHARA.
The following narrative of conditions in Rokhara has been afforded by one
who left there on the 20th October.
In addition to Bhokharan military units a force of 500 police has been
enrolled for duty in rural areas and consists of 200 mounted men and 300 foot.
Bokharan city police number 500, all foot. In addition to the above there
are watchmep numbering 1,000, divided into ten companies called “ rekhan. ”
A company is posted to each police station and each police station is in charge
of a ward of ten streets.
Baizulla Khwaja is the Bokharan Minister of War. He has six Ottoman
Turks under him, three of whom are officers.
Two months ago one, Mohi-ud-din Maksun, a military officer, had a quarrel
with one, Abdul Qadir, son of another Mohi-ud-din. The upshot was that
Mohi-ud-din Maksun fled from Bokhara with 50 j men, a load of extra rifles
and two machine guns. Abdul Qadir wished to pursue him but was prevented
by the Bolsheviks who surrounded Bokhara city with troops. Maksun
escaped and joined the rebels in Ferghana. Next, Abdul Qadir and Faizulla
Khwaja disagreed and fighting between them was imminent when a Persian
of influence, Khwaja Mir Ali, intervened and a peace was patched up between
them.
(Note.— The defection of Mohi-ud-din Maksun was reported in a previous Summary. It is possible that
it is he whom the Bolshevik press refers to as the Basmachi leader “ Alukitdin ”.)
British rule is regarded with great favour by the Bokharans and
Bolshevik subjects and they long to be placed under British protection
The e^r-Amir left behind 50 wives who all returned to their parents
with the exception of seven who are being maintained by the Bokharan
Government. One of these has a son by the Amir of 12 years of age, and
another one of 6 years.
Recruiting for the Bokharan army is still in progress. A month ago
1,500 youths were enlisted and sent to Tashkent for training.
The Afghan Consul is ? not on good terms with Bokharan officials and
behaves in a highhanded manner towards them. Nevertheless many Bokharans
register themselves as Afghan subjects in order to avoid the tyrannies of the
Bolsheviks.
Another man, an arrival from Guzar, states the crops have been good
in that region, especially cotton. He states that it is expected the
Bokharan army will be trained by Afghan officers as one of the result of the
treaty with Afghanistan.
A detachment of troops was sent towards Karatagin from Guzar on account
of the Basmach menace. These rebels under the son of Tora Guzar had occupied
Shah Darwaza.
252. AFGHANISTAN.
Herat .—October 21st to 27th.
A question was addressed to the British Agent in Herat relative to local
feeling over the Russo-Afghan treaty. Unfortunately, he did not give