File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎505r] (657/1080)

SECRET.
Intelligence Summary No. 36 for the week ending September 3rd, 1921.
206—Khorasan.
Meshed.—T he situation in the Province has altered for the worse makine the
work of reconciliation of contending parties more difficult and protractinu the'date
of a return to norma] conditions. fe x e Le
A loss of public confidence
are concealing their valuables.
in the future is denoted by the reports that citizens
Lp to the close of last week it seemed that the situation would be relieved bv an
acceptance by the Persian Government of all the conditions imposed by Colonel
Muhammad Taqi Khan. That acceptance has not been notified and delay has
given opportunity for tribal and personal hostilities to develop in the east of the
Province and for factitious opinion in Meshed, hostile to the Shah and the Persian
Government, to find public expression.
ho doubt the Persian Government finds its dignity assailed by the imposition
upon itself of terms by one whom it must regard as a rebel. To yield thereto in
tcto would be almost tantamount to defeat, giving encouragement to others
to earn by similar methods well salaried retirement albeit in exile.
Had it not been for the unfavourable development of events in the east of the
Province, the general situation might not have taken a turn for the worse. For it
would seem that there is some amount of personal animus dictating Muhammad
Taqi Khan’s attitude towards the veteran Hazara, Muhammad Reza, Shuja-ul-
Mulk and that until that vindictiveness is assuaged, he could not see fit to abandon a
bellicose policy. In this connection he has issued another communique, or explana
tion, to the public of Meshed in which he details a dispute between himself and the
Hazara chief over the non-fulfilment by the latter of a promise to provide him with
300 men for the Khorasan Gendarmerie. He refers acrimoniously to Shuja-ul-
Mulk’s resistance to his measures for collecting revenue in the latter’s territory.
The genesis of the dispute between the two is more remotely traceable to
Muhammad Taqi Khan’s own ruthless spoliation of those chiefs and governors
whom he could lay hands on when he seized dominion in Khorasan last April.
Those chiefs living furthest from Meshed and expecting’a similar fate,, began to take
measures to protect themselves, and thus the foundations of mutual distrust were
laid upon which are now seen rising the beginnings of the edifice of civil war.
So far, nothing very drastic has occurred, though what at the termination of
last week was an armed truce has developed into desultory hostilities.
This armed truce depended on the observation by both parties of the village of
Fariman as a neutral area which was to be occupied by neither side. Sheikh
Haider, the Barbari chief, and commanding Shuja-ul-Mulk’s men, disregarded
this provision and occupied the village. Muhammad Taqi Khan thereupon in
formed the British authorities that he had no recourse but to attack Sheikh
Haidar. This, apparently, was done and Fariman occupied by the Gendarmerie on
the 31st August at a cost of two Barbaris wounded and one Gendarme.
The Gendarmes then attacked and looted Qala Nao, Sheikh Haidar’s own
village, in which operation six Barbaris and three Gendarmes are reported by
Muhammad Taqi Khan to have been killed. Sheikh Haidar fled to Bakharz.
On the 3rd August Muhammad Taqi Khan left Meshed by carriage and proceed
ed to Fariman to view the situation and “ to compose certain differences between
officers.”.
It should be stated here that other tribal leaders like Sheikh Murtaza and
Shaukat-ud-Daulah are holding aloof from the dispute while twenty-four greybeards
from among the tribes have written to Muhammad Taqi Khan to say they have
no quarrel with him and to beg him to withdraw from their country.
CHSoFD
EmC. in INDIA FORNjGx
[ 'SECRETARY'S NO 84M
{ DATED 80th .