File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎475v] (598/1080)

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last named villages throughout their extent has shown that the apparent cause of the ins
ciency of water is its abduction by the Persians from the channel allotted exclusively f 0 ff'
irrigation of the Turkmen auls. This infringement by Persians of the interests of Turkmen 1
been shown in twelve cases by existing documents. A few insolated cases of infrineeme t!
Persian interests by Turkmen have been communicated to the Governors of Darragaz 11
Quchan and quickly rectified by the Commission carrying out the tour of inspection. ° ^
We must hope that it will be possible to avoid a failure of the sowing throughout the wl l
of this rayon. Nevertheless the harvest is going to suffer.
The Areas watered by the Rivers Miana and Chaacha .—In the basins of these two rivers
situated, respectively, the villages Miana and Makhmal Teppe, Chaacha and Akhcha Te ^
The investigations of the Commission have revealed that up to 1917 (excluding the time f
famine) no insufficiency of irrigation water was observed in this region. From that year-and
particularly during the current year—a decided insufficiency has been revealed, particularly '
Akhcha Teppe and Makhmal Teppe. This appears to be a result of the retention of water bv tie
Persians who have evidently broken fresh ground by the plough in order to increase the area
of sowing under rice. This was definitely proscribed by the former treaty of 1884 (1894 ?)
It has been made exceedingly difficult for Turkmen living in this area to procure passports
to pass the Persian frontier and, latterly, the issue of passports has been entirely forbidden ^
In consequence of the stringent insufficiency of water revealed during the period middle
of April to middle of May, the crops throughout the whole area watered by these rivers willfce
below the average. The issue has been increased somewhat since the middle of May hut, unfor
tunately, a considerable decrease has been observed since the first days of June.
An analogous situation obtains in the regions of other rivers.
It will be evident from all that has been said above that the true solution of the water ques-
tion affecting Trans-Caspian regions depends upon obtaining a definite agreement with Afghan,
istan with respect to the waters of the Hari Rud and with Persia in the matters relating to tla
Persian basin of the Tejen. A series of agreements is also necessary with regard to the distribu
tion of water, the construction of hydro technical apparatus, the organization of local techni
cal and administrative superintendence throughout the irrigated areas, and so on.
Execution of the Enemies of the Republic.
Ferghana — 28th June.—By order of the District
individuals were ordered to be shot for buying and selling
with the Basmachi.
Extraordinary 'Commission twelve
arms and for establishing relations
Among the number shot were the commander of the 1st Battalion of the 18th Turkestan
Kegiment and the commandant of the garrison at Kizil Kia A deputy or lieutenant of the governor in Ottoman Iraq, with additional responsibilities as a high-ranking provincial judge. .
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