File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎424v] (496/1080)

r An officer of the Sabzewar force returned to Meshed states that there
have been 90 desertions from among the Persian Cossacks at Shahrud.
These successes, insignificant though they are and gained over an
adversary incapable of counter-artillery action who is without machine
guns, and, possibly, deficient in small arm ammunition, cannot but have
given their author considerable impetus as to his cause and prestige as to
his person.
The attitude of the community at large cannot be gauged with any
degree of assurance. The impression gained is that it is preserving a
detached attitude and watching the development of events with a pious wish
that nothing may occur to sever the Province from its allegiance to the
Shah. Whether the march of events will prove too irresistible and will
hurry Persia into that dissolution of her integral parts which so many are
trying to bring about, is a matter which depends entirely on the strength
or weakness of the position at Teheran.
Admissions, indications, events, have practically proved an earlier
surmise to be true, namely, that Muhammad Taqi Khan is in treaty with the
Bolsheviks for assistance At piesent it is possible he is negotiating only
for a supply of munitions and armament in return for the food material of
which the Bolsheviks stand in such dire need. He is probably well aware
that if he accepts troops as well he will acquire disagreeable allies whom it
will be difficult subsequently to get rid of.
The terms of the treaty between Persia and Russia so very positively
affirm Russia’s intention to assure the territorial integrity of Persia that
it is hardly conceivable that Muhammad Taqi Khan will induce the
Bolsheviks to use their forces to assist in its dismemberment. Yet the way
to avoid the operation of that treaty lies to hand and the first step thereto
has been taken by Muhammad Taqi Khan.
A reference to a Nationalist Party or “ Milyun ” has been made in a
previous number of this Summary. It now transpires that the head of this
Party, or, rather, the President of its Committee, is Muhammad Taqi Khan
himself. Time and the pressure of events may force that Party into
metamorphosis as a Soviet and into the assumption of the functions of a
Soviet. The Bolshevik directorate would then consider the occasion
justified an extension of their benevolence to Khorasan and an abrogation
of their treaty with Teheran, Khorasan being no longer part of the Persian
Empire.
Muhammad Taqi Khan has recently said vis-a-vis the Consul General,
that he knows the Russian and will have none of him Neither will he
permit the interposition of any foreign direction or guidance in the affairs
of Persia. To enforce such is, however, beyond the powers of Muhammad
Taqi Khan, or of any other citizen of the most backward, fissiparous, and
bankrupt State in Asia so long as Russia’s appalling weight is causing its
(Persia’s) northern frontier to sag southwards. The inevitable result of his
bid for independence—if it succeeds—will be the addition of one more piece
to the already huge parterre of Bolshevik Asia, will be the realization of the
Russian expansionists’ dream that the Russian southern Asiatic frontier
shall run from Astarabad to the southern slopes of the Hindu Khush.
Unless there is a radical change in the Russian Government at Moscow,
unless there is a similar change in the policy opposing the Asiatic designs
of that Government, it is hard to see how the ambitions of the abovemen-
tioned expansionists can fail of realization.
The Persian riposte to the expansionist policy, in so far as Khorasan is
concerned, has been alluded to above—the activity of the tribes, the co
operation of Shaukat-ul-Mulk and the Amir of Kain. To this must be
added the force moving on Shahrud from Teheran and testified to by
travellers from the Capital. The action by this must determine the fifth
phase in the Khorasan situation.
In the interregnum Muhammad Taqi Khan is forging ahead. He has
sent a German engineer to examine the carboniferous strata in the vicinity
of Meshed and talks of issuing a paper currency to tide him over financial