File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎437r] (521/1080)

The object of this movement has not transpired. It may be in connection
with the rumoured trouble in Baku, in consequence of Rumanian action in the
Ukrain, or merely a demonstration evoked by the present revolution in
Khorasan.
Archangcm .—September 29th.
News of troops passing west is repeated from here but is nebulous. The
resident agent is being intimidated by gendarmes and affects to fear for his
life.
Khakistar .—This correspondent, while on a visit to Meshed, was apprehend
ed by the gendarme authorities and deported. The circumstances have
already been detailed in this summary.
Sarakhs .—September 23rd to 29th.
Stories have drifted into Meshed relative to trouble at Tejen. The
following account from Sarakhs is probably correct.
Khwaja Ali Khan, Komissar and Governor of Tejen, sold a rifle for which
the Bolsheviks wished to arrest him. He fled into the desert with 30 followers
and 40 rifles. He has been joined by many other Turkman and his force is
increasing every day. Tejen and the district round are avoided by travellers as
being very unsafe.
(n) Accounts of strained relations between Bolsheviks and Communists in
Russia arrive here by w>ay of Russian Sarakhs. The Bolsheviks outnumber the
Communists, many of whom have been killed. There are stories of a train
conveying Communist Jews being detained at Tashkent and most of its
passengers killed. Jews in Bolshevik employ are very nervous.
(Hi) A Bolshevik column under Safar Turkman and Yussaf Armenian and
numbering 75 horseman was sent from Merv to arrest Khwaja Ali Khan
abovementioned. It was attacked and partly destroyed, the survivors being
taken prisoner while the two leaders fled back to Merv. Khwaja Ali Khan
now has 150 followers.
(iv) On the 26th September 30 horsemen of Karim Khan Baloch passed
through Sarakhs en route for Tejen. It is thought they are going to join their
titulary chief who has been released on condition he arrests Khwaja Adi
Khan.
(v) It is reported that the total number of five kran pieces minted in
Russia is seven million. 140,000 roubles in gold have been sent to Meshed for
purchase of opium and cereals. Turkmen are bringing gold coin from Merv to
Persian Sarakhs where the exchange rate is 64 krans per ten roubles, gold. The
Bolshevik police at Russain Sarakhs has been three months in arrears of receipt
of pay. They have recently been paid in five kran pieces for which they can
get 25,000 paper roubles.
(vi) Kurlian, a Jew refugee from London, has arrived in Askhabad where
he intends to settle.
(vii) A Russian feldshar has returned from Tejen to Russian Sarakhs. He
says that at Tejen there are 50 troops, all of whom are barefooted.
228.
TRANS-PRO N TIER.
Krasnovodsk and Kizil September 16th and 13th. No change
in the general situation.
Ashkabad .—September 16th.
No change in the general situation is reported. People are too absorbed
in the famine and measures to mitigate the same to give their minds to any
business. Bread is nearly double the price of a couple of months ago, white
bread selling at 2,000 and black at 1,500 roubles a pound.
Despite the removal of restrictions on private enterprise, the Turkmen
are doing no buying and selling. They are not bringing their commodities
to marklt from distrust of the Bolsheviks On the other hand, the authorities
are paying great attention to agriculture in the hope of securing good crops
in the future to relieve the present situation.