File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎501v] (650/1080)

to work on the railway line. For the last month the Bolsheviks have been treating
Afghans very badly.
(vii) On the 15th, which was the day of the M, theNaib Salar with his troops
and the citizens of Herat assembled for the Id prayers. The Naib-ul-Hukumeh
did not put in an appearance. The reason for this is ascribed to the fact that two
days previously the Naib-ul-Hukumeh had passed through the Cantonments to
attend the “ fatiha v of a deceased person and the guards and individual soldiers
did not salute him. Had he been present at the Id prayers he would have expect
ed to walk down the ranks of the troops present and to wish the men the “ U
Mubarak.” As he did not wish to expose himself to the contumely of not. receiving
a salute on this occasion he stayed away.
(viii) After the above ceremony the Naib Salar dismissed the troops and went
with his officers to the Chahar Bagh to pay a call upon the Naib-ul-HukumeL
Owing *to the strained relations betwen the two the Naib-ul-Hukumeh did not
appear in his official uniform.
It has always been the custom to send invitation cards to all the principal per
sonages in Herat a day previous to the Id ceremonies, the British Agent not beuvr
excepted. Upon this occasion no invitation was sent to the British Agent nor to
the staff of the Bolshevik Consulate. Only ten persons from among the Herat
Khawanin and officials received invitations this year.
{ix) Preparations for illuminations on the occasion of the anniversary of
Afghan independence are in progress. A “ jashn ” is to be observed throughout
Afghanistan.
{x) The Naib Salar has notified that those who bring in twenty approved
recruits will be awarded the rank of ressaldar and ten of jemadar. A man produced
thirty recruits and was told that if he could make up the number to one hundred
he would award him a colonelcy.
(xi) The Naib'Salar has received plans for the erection of eighteen frontier
posts which he submitted for approval to the Naib-ul-Hukumeh. The latter left
the matter to the officer’s discretion. These posts are to be rectangular in plan
and of two storeys, the garrison occupying the upper storey, access to which will
be by means of a ladder leading from within the lower storey. The garrison will
live in the upper storey.
It is intended that these blockhouses shall be built at once but owing to tension
between the Naib-ul-Hukumeh and the Naib Salar their chances of completion are
dubious.
(xii) Incidents are quoted by the British Agent of the apprehension of a party
from Russia at Qala Nao and Chahildukhteran, respectivly. The Herat authorities
appeared to be satisfied with their depositions and released them, one party on the
guarantee of the Governor of Qala Nao and the other pending further inquiries.
{xiii) On the 17th a Turk arrived by carriage from Meshed. The Naib-uh
Hukumeh interested himself in questioning the man on the present conditions of
I urks and Persians. He is on his way to Kabul and had several other companions
with him who, however, were delayed at Kafir Qala because of the breakdown of i
their carriage. All of the latter are representatives of the Republic of Azerbaijan
and are on their way to Kabul to discuss certain matters with the Amir.
Ihe Secretary of the Naib-ul-Hukumeh has asked his employer to sanction
a conveyance, servant, and escort for the party. The Naib-ul-Hukumeh promised
to do this on the conclusion of the “ Jashn.”
Meshed 5 H. J. \TALLIS, Major,
The 28th August 1921. Military Attache.
Distribution.
The Chief of the General Staff, Simla.
Foreign and Political, Simla.
His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran.
His Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General, Khorasan.
His Britannic Majesty s Consul, Sistan.
Intelligence Bureau, Baluchistan.