File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎422v] (492/1080)

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Bahai-i-Daftar, the emissary from Muhommad Taqi Khan, left Bujnurd
for Meshed on the 3rd. He had come to explain away past misunder
standings.
News in this quarter from Baku is to the effect that although there is as yet
no revolution in Azerbaijan men are persuaded that in a month or six weeks’ I
time not a Bolshevik will be left alive. Three Armenians and one Mussalman
have been shot for conspiracy. There is harmony between the two sects in the
Republic.
On the 16th August a komissar of high rank arrived in Askhabad from
Tashkent, accompanied by some representatives from Merv. They summoned
other representatives of the Askhabad area to a conference. Before the con
ference could assemble the first party returned in a hurry. They left behind
instructions to form a Tekke Turkmen mounted regiment for service on the
Yomud frontier. The commandant of this regiment was to be Qurban Quli
Quli Niazov, a former officer of the Tekken Regiment (probably the son of the
aged Makhtum Quli Khan, one of the defenders of Geokh Teppe against
Skobelev). The officer said he would commence the formation of the regiment
but had no hopes of success.
Bajgiran .—September 4th.
It is believed here that the Gendarme officer, Mirza Ali Khan, who had
the conferences with the chief of the Russian Special Department at Gaudan,
was negotiating for help for the Gendarmerie authorities in Meshed should
they require it. Others believe the conferences had to do with the extradition
of Zabardast Khan who, according to the statement of the above Russian
official, has fled with his followers to the Qum.
This officer, Mirza Ali Khan, is very young and inexperienced and it is
not conceivable that negotiations of such a nature would be entrusted to him.
It may be remembered that it was he who was appointed Military Governor
of Darragaz by Muhammad Taqi Khan in which capacity he sent out the
scare telegrams which caused all the Gendarmerie to be sent to that area, for
which and for alleged malpractices he was brought to Meshed under
arrest.
A report received from a fairly reliable source in Meshed states this
officer has proceeded to Askhabad for further negotiations with the Bolshevik
authorities.
Quchan .—September 5th.
C0rres P 0ri ^ en ^ writes to say that inquiries show that the object of
the Gendarme officer (Mirza Ali Khan) in visiting the Chief of the Special
Department at Gaudan was to make arrangements for the purchase of machine
guns from the Bolsheviks. The Russian wired to Tashkent for instructions
but has received the reply that his Government are willing to sell the machine
i ^ Un ®i ^ 10vI 7 ^^ P ers i an Government at Teheran require them. The
en arme Officer has asked permission to go to Tashkent to prosecute the
negotiations from there but had received no reply up to the time of despatch
of this report (September 5th). w i v
With further reference to the meeting between Bolsheviks and a Persian
mentioned m last week’s Summary, page 11, paragraph III, it has transpired
that the place of assignation was Taza Qala and not Robat. TheSardarof
Bujnurd arrived at this conference at night. Further inquiries are proceed-
ueej. aaaressea
to the truth of this story.
Lutfdbad. August 26th and September 2nd.
mpAw B 7 S k eV i k . M 1 *“ ister at Teheran has intimated the Tashkent Govern-
refnWo tin Kha i n i 0uld be extradi ted to Persia. This the lattei
rnrtv ptUp o 'r ^ g“ ro unds that whosoever being a member of a revolutionary
party enters Russian confines will receive protection to the last.
withmi t^t rS rp°f Sl ^ sia ,. P art y are crossing- into Persia every day and
ani ear to cfonrptrTfp 1011 T P art the Persian authorities who do not
appear to concern themselves very greatly in the matter.