File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎470r] (587/1080)

examination. The Customs authorities paid no heed to this document but
opened the luggage of the party which was found to contain old clothes which had
been brought for sale in Persia.
All other papers appeared to be forgeries.
Customs duty was asked of these people but as they had no coin with them
they sold English one pound notes, first for 35 krans and later for 40 krans.
' \
Affairs in Mazenderan are unsettled. Amir Muayyad surrounded and
disarmed 70 Persian Cossacks. These latter have not received their arrears of
pay and have withdrawal all road guards thus giving a free hand to highway
men.
The Cossacks have arrested one, Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Jalil, and demand from him 150,000
tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. .
A late arrival from Baku relates that the labourers there recently held a
meeting in which they demanded of the Soviet Government its reasons for destroy
ing the Capitalists of Baku and substituting for them English Capitalists,
especially with regard to the oil fields. The reply they received was that ‘ 4 as all
factories were out of order it was essential to invite the British to restart them.
When these factories are restored to their pristine efficiency we will turn out the
British
For the purpose of financing their enterprise the British demand that the
Soviet Government shall deposit a sum in gold in a European bank which will
be regarded as a guarantee against a possible loss of capital involved by operations
in a country so unsettled as Russia. The narrator concludes by saying that the
labouring class of Baku and the Soviet Government are still discussing the
matter.
No governor had been appointed to Astrabad up to the last date of the
report.
The post office had been place d under a censor from the 28th July.
Bajnurd — 30th July .—The correspondent at this place writes that the
Bolsheviks are maintaining no frontier posts “ lower than Duzle Teppe”, but
such orientation is difficult to follow. He goes on to say that the population
from Chinggara to Chikishlyar is awiff-Bolshevik and, so far, has paid no tribute in
kind.
According to the statement of an Armenian acquaintance from Qara Qala
the road from that place to Kizil Arvat is dangerous on account of raiding by
Russian Yomuds. Travellers make a detour of 30 to 40 versts further east in
order to avoid the danger zone. The telegraph line Kizil Arvat-Qara Qala-
• Chikishlyar—has not been in existence fox some time, the poles and wire having
been removed or stolen.
Bajgiran — 29th July .—The Bolsheyiks are exercising a very close watch on
the frontier, apparently for the purpose of preventing smuggling. They keep
patrols on all the mountain paths used by contrabandists.
On the 27th the post commander at Gaudan procured 5 poods of wheat from
Bajgiran. The local Governor has issued orders that in future such a quantity
shall not pass the frontier.
On account of a . fresh outbreak of cholera at Krasnovodsk the Bolshevik
have re-instituted quarantine at this point (Bajgiran) and have placed it in charge
of the same lady doctor who was there previously.
Two Indians who arrived at the frontier from Tashkent are, in the opinion of
the correspondent, suspicious characters for, despite they have an English passport,
the Bolsheviks have allowed them to cross the frontier into Persia. They have
with them 1'18 pounds of silver and 15 zolotnik (T5 pound) of gold, also carpets,
samovars, and so on.