File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎421v] (490/1080)

Since his return to Meshed Muhammad Taqi Khan has been placards
the town with communiques on the fighting and on the demerits of his oppo!
nents and antagonists, both military and political.
The intervention of troops from the Kainat is hardly yet in being and ha 8
not influenced the situation so far. Even if they do not commit themselves
to the fight they will help, in conjunction with the tribal forces, to contain a
large portion of the total gendarme force in that region, weakening its power
of resistance to any measures the Persian Government may take from the
direction of Tehran.
Turning to the Sabzewar front the situation may be briefly described as
this: Muhammed Taqi Khan heard of the presence at Abbasabad of 200
Persian Cossacks which he considered a fresh proof of the “ intrigues ” of the
Persian Government and of the lack of support by the British Legation. He
accordingly ordered forward Major Ismail Khan who moved a portion of his
force to Mazinan, whereupon Nasrat Lashkar’s road guards and the 200
Persian Cossacks evacuated Abbasabad, removing telegraph instruments and
falling back on Shahrud.
So far, nothing further has transpired from this front which appears to be
static owing to the pressure of the tribes in the south-east.
The position of affairs in the city, which had improved to a degree pro
moting a feeling of relief on the receipt cf the Persian Government’s terms
to Muhammad Taqi Khan, has altered again for the worse. This is ascrib-
able partly to the return of Muhammad Taqi Khan and partly to the presence
of a party which calls itself the “ Committee of Nationalists of Khorasan”.
This party, believed to consist mostly of Tabrezi Turks and Caucasians, has
i posted notices expressing its political objects, one of which, translated, may be
found in the Appendix. J
It is possible that IVfuhammad Taqi Khan will lean more and more in
the direction of the Turk and the Caucasian, these being of the revolutionary
class that has supported Bolshevism, and will secede to a like degree from the
Persian element who are already doubtful of the propriety of disloyalty to the
bhah. In fact, since his return he has arrested many persons, including some
of his own officers whose now more matured convictions are against a further
defiance of constitutional authority.
•j-t, i 8 ^ m ^ Ssar ^ ^ ^ ar ^ ar Lujnurd has returned—it is not known
with what success, if any.
Reinforcements—As far as the repressive measures against agents have
Lu^from Meshed 0W1Ilg reinforcements have been recorded as proceeding
September, 3rd- One hundred gendarmes with five cart loads of bag
gage and small arms ammunition. They "were
called in from Quchan and left for Turbat.
« 4th. liftyleft for Eariman at night and 40 were to
follow.
« 6th. Three cartloads small arms ammunition left for
Turbat at night. 75 horses for artillery were
brought in from the district and more are called
for from Quchan.
»» » Q* 16 Cossack and two Bolsheviks under arrest were
^ released to the ranks of the Gendarmerie.
>» /th. One hundred gendarmes (Barbaris) and one gun left
for Turbat-i-Haidari.
5J ” Eight re-enlisted gunners were sent to Sabzew T ar
with one gun.
„ 8th. Fifty mounted gendarmes left for Turbat-i-Haidari
and were to be followed by 50 more.
9th. Taj Muhammad Khan with 100 Kurds and two carts
of ammunition left for Sabzewar.