File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎523r] (693/1080)

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The Red soldiers of the Labour Battalion are wearing themselves out with this very work
and their clothing is reduced to muddy rags, incapable of protecting them either from mos
quitoes or from the sun.
In such conditions the full complement of workers cannot be reckoned on. Thus the corps
carries <#i reduced by three quarters, or in other words, each man is doing the work of four.
Various Commissions have come at times to inspect the work. A report on the progress
of the work and the condition of the men would invariably be rendered. They would look
around, would see things for themselves and doubtless gave promises of help. But the banks
of the Amu Darya fade from their eyes and promises dissolve like small clouds. And still the
heavy stones lie as before in the water wherewith to wall in and strengthen the territory of the
Soviet.
Not far away is Charjui, surrounded by orchards. In the town is the Amu Darya Flotilla.
One can always meet the sailors of that fleet in the streets, on the railway, and in the cheerful
Railway gardens. All of them are well dressed and there are no rags. Their duty state is
always full, even to overflowing. But the workers no.
Mats in the Railway Station.
At Samara railway station, in what was once the first class waiting room, rats disport them
selves among the passengers.
In the course of several hours I counted 230 and every one was not less in size than a cat.
No one destroys them. The station employes say they are awaiting the advent of some
or other Commission which will advance to the fight with rats.
Good—-the sooner the better. And, by the way, it would be interesting to find out which
will arrive first —the Commission or contagion ?
Spain.
A White Terror reigns in Spain. Scores of Communists have been killed. In the course
•of two days seventeen comrades have died at the hands of the Whiteguards. In six months
764 men have been killed.
The Dollar versus the Pound.
Peace before a new war.—A war still more frightful in its consequences than the last Euro
pean war.
In the markets of the world all values were equated to the pound sterling up to the begin
ning of the war of 1914. The Russian rouble, the French franc, the German mark, the American
dollar, introduced themselves thus—“ I am such and such a portion of the English pound ster
ling, and I such and such.’'’
The English capitalist was supreme everywhere. He fixed the price of all merchandise.
But the times have changed and the American dollar has begun to call the tune in the capitalists’
chorus.
The English capitalists are preparing themselves for a decisive struggle with the American
fraternity. They are going to grant timely concessions to their proletariat and are even begin
ning to look towards “ Bolshevik ” Soviet Russia.
The French Government organ Tan says—The last Note of the English to the French
Government hints sufficiently clearly that England will not consider herself eternally bound to
support, or even to act benevolently towards French rights in Russia once France uncondi
tionally refuses to have relations with the Bolsheviks.
An ri here is another item from the French paper Information. Two English lumber
firms commenced a process against the firm of Baring Brothers which was receiving timber
from Russia. These firms wished to receive from Barings’ 350,000 roubles given by them to
the Government of the Tsar for forest products.
The Court rejected the demand on the grounds that the new Russian Government had been
acknowledged by England on the 16th March and that the appellants had not proved the non-
fulfilment by the Soviet Government of its obligations.
The pound sterling is concluding a peace with the rouble while getting ready for its fight
with the dollar. “ Who tires in an unequal contest ” is a matter of no importance to us.
Nevertheless, we must apply ourselves to re-establishing our country s credit so that the victor
may not descend with all his might on the Workmen’s and Peasants Republic.
Izvestia, published at Askhabad, July loth, 1921.
All Communists of Askhabad, together with their arms in the case of those possessing them,
are to be present at the headquarters of the Territorial Regiment at 4-30 p.m. on the 13th, Arm$