File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎397v] (442/1080)

Four emissaries were sent to the Bolsheviks by Major Ismail £han after
the death of Muhammad Taqi Khan. The names of three of them are
(i) Ghulam Mehdiov, chemist, of Meshed.
(ii) Muhammad, employ^ of Karbalai Bustam Qarabaghi, sarai
of Meshed.
(Hi) Ismail, employe of Askar Baqirov who is now in Meshed.
Lutfabad .—October 21st.
It is reported that each railway station from Askhabad to the frontier of
Qalat is garrisoned by from 150 to t00 men, Artik having 500. This bears
out the statement of Ghulam Mehdiov, chemist, recorded in the first part of
the current Summary.
The Special Department is to be inaugurated again at Artik. It may
be remembered it was abolished a, short while ago and its personnel drafted to
Kaakhka. The Bolsheviks are once more showing considerable jealousy in all
matters connected with a passage across the frontier.
■Railway hands have been told their pay will be doubled and that they
will be required to fend for themselves in the matter of rations. They have
summoned a meeting to Merv to take place at the end of the month wherein
this question will be discussed.
There has been a movement of famine refugees eastwards, as many ae
800 passing Artik in the course of one day. ^
On the 20th a Bussian brought a newspaper into Lutfabad and read out
from it to an audience that the Turkestan Government considered Zabardast
Khan to be a colleague of Mursal Sadiqov (one time British agent in Darragaz)
and an employe of the British Government. It had consequently ordered his
imprisonment.
(The newspaper statement referred to may be found in the Appendix.)
There is no check on the number or character of Bussian arrivals ir this
frontier town.
The Bolshevik frontier guard at Hissar killed a Persian Customs sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman.
called Khudaverdi during an exchange of shots.
Khakistar .—October 21st.
According to an informant writing from this centre, Muhammad Taqi
Khan asked Tashkent headquarters for officers as well as for troops. In
response, 20 officers and five motor cars were sent with the Bolshevik Consul
designate to Meshed to Askhabad. On arrival at the latter place news of the
death of the Persian revolutionary leader was received and the contirgent of
officers remained there.
The story is unconfirmed but is plausible in the light of a knowledge of
Muhammad Taqi Khan’s intentions.
As there apj)eais to be no amelioration in the condition of famine refu
gees deposited in frontier centres despite the recent influx of Persian grain
the conviction is gaining ground among the people that the Bolsheviks are de
voting these supplies to the feeding of the Bed Army.
Persian Sarakks .—No information has been received owing to the illness
of the resident agent.
Pajgiran.—XnotheY agent has been installed in this place in substitution
of the man who fled into Bussian territory.
247- TBANS-FBONTIEB.
Economics .—It need not be said that economic conditions show no im
provement, in fact since last week’s report the situation is worse on account of
the stoppage by the Persian Government of further consignments of grain to
Russia. This has occasioned meetings in Askhabad to protest the necessity of
fetching what the Persians will now send. Communications have passed bet
ween the Karguzar of Meshed and the Persian representative in Askhaba
relative to the present harsh treatment of Persian subjects in the latter town.