File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎435r] (517/1080)

Every shift and expedient is being resorted to to raise men, but principal
among these is the press gang. Men from rural districts and from the city are
being forced to serve in a force of which they know little and for a cause of
which they know less or, knowing, are probably repugnant to. The local
labour exchange is near the Shrine, and there those in search of work congregate
in the morning awaiting employers. The gendarmes have on an occasion
herded these to barracks on pretext of employment. Arrived there they w ere
converted into gendarmes by the simple expedient of an issue of uniform
and a rifle.
Travellers to Meshed have been similarly rounded up and the wives
and families accompanying them left stranded and destitute.
There appears to be little discrimination as to the age of those pressed
into the ranks, middle-aged men and boys of fifteen and sixteen being swept
in. Eecruiting parties parade the city with bundles of uniform w hich they
put on likely looking men and then lead them off as complete gendarmes.
The further provision of equipment and accoutrements for this expanding
force must now be presenting a problem, especially in view of the approach
of winter. An impudent demand upon the British Consulate for reserves
of arms and equipment lying there is even foreshadowed from one quarter.
The local police have been deprived of their winter uniform and greatcoats
for the benefit of the gendarmes.
The officering of this force is effected by creations de novo and promotions
de prof undis. Faizi, the Bolshevik torturer of Menshevik officers, has received
a small command and has been sent off to the Russian frontier. Yussaf
Qarabaghi, Turk and Bolshevik intermediary, has been made a Naib, or
Lieutenant, and so on.
FINANCE.
To keep the force in being as many expedients are resorted to as for
recruiting it.
As attempt has been made to launch a bank and the former manager of
the Quchan branch of the late Russian Ban \ has been engaged to administrate
the new venture. The object of its promoters, inter alia, is to collect
the outstanding debts of the Russian Bank, amounting to 280,OOu
tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . The scheme hangs fire owing to M. Rustonovich, the former
^Manager of the Meshed branch, refusing to yield the keys of the rooms
containing the records. He is in consequence under arrest.
Benevolences are sought from wealthy citizens, arrest being threatened
if not forthcoming. Taxes on travellers are levied and fees charged for passes
enabling holders to be out after dark. Forced loans are being resorted to
and traders have responded to a total of 15,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. for fear a worse fate
befall them. These loans are supposed to be redeemable after two months,
which is optimistic.
The imposition of export duty has already been referred to in a previous
Summary. This does not exempt merchandise passing south from having to
pay local octroi when passing through the territory of the Governor of Birjand.
The natural result of these measures will be to stop export trade to the
south.
The Bolshevik gold lately received from Bolshevik traders has already
been disbursed as arrears of pay of the gendarmes at the rate of 66 krans per
ten rouble piece. The money-changers, suo motu, at once reduced the rate to
60 at which there was some slight disturbance, necessitating the piqueting of
their shops.
The lands of insurgent chiefs recently defeated have been declared forfeit
to the Khorasan Government. Revenue officials have already been despatched
for settlement. All the cattle, sheep, mules, camels, and horses accruing to
these lands have been confiscated and brought to Meshed.
It is said that Muhammad Taqi Khan meditates striking his own coinage.
To do so he would have to rehabilitate the current issue from want of bullion.
His credit notes have not yet appeared.