File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎525v] (698/1080)

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These measures, then, being known to the subject of this note it might he
a matter for surmise whether he will think it advisable to anticipate a possible fata
lity bv organizing another coup d'etat, declaring himself the de facto, if not the
de jure, ruler of Khorasan and defying the Central Government again to unseat
him.
Another factor will soon begin to work potently in the situation, even if it is ^
not operating already, and that is the financial one. The local Commander-in-Chief
has a force of some 2,000 for which he requires 50,000 tom.ans a month, the Central
Government has . neither passed his budget nor permitted him to appropriate
anything from the revenues of the Province without reference to itself. The question,
therefore, is one of—Will Muhammad Taqi Khan revolt, seize the reins of admin
istration again and restart squeezing the rich in _ order to provide the upkeep of
his command, rather than it should become mutinous and ine T'cient from want of
pay, thereby robbing him of the instrument of his own aggrandizement ?
The Tehran Government, if unable to contend with such a situation, may-
make a pact with the devil and restore its authority with the assistance of Bolshevik
troops, to resist whom Muhammad Taqi Khan is totally unfitted by reasons of
numbers available, their armament, the quality of his troops, and the hostility of
those he has despoiled in the past.
The question of the appointment of a permanent incumbent to the post of
Governor-General cannot be postponed much longer. Muhammad Taqi Khan is
averse to most of the candidates whose names are suggested to him. The reason
for this is not far to seek—he wishes to see himself the successful candidate for the
Governor-Generalship of Khorasan from which point of vantage he might issue, later,
still further into the heart of Persia.
On the night of the 21st-22nd two bombs were exploded within the city, result
ing in the death of a beggar girl. The police are of opinion that the bombs were made
of old shrapnel cases and the explosive, local black powder. There does not seem to
have been"any desire on the part of the authors of the outrage to inflict injury
but rather to bring off a political demonstration for the purpose of discrediting some
person or persons or public department. Some are of opinion that the instigator
of the act is Muhammad Taqi Khan who wishes to impress upon the people and the
Government the lawlessness of the city that he might receive a mandate to restore
the public confidence.
Small parties of gendarmes are reported to be distributed along the Meshed-
Sarakhs and Meshed-Tehran road. The reason for this dissipation of force is not
clear but is in the latter case popularly ascribed to a wish on the part of Muhammad
Taqi Khan to arrest anybody who may be sent as Governor-General to Meshed!
It is also suggested that he may be taking precautions to apprehend the assassins he
believes have been sent to accomplish his destruction.
Sedition .—On the night of the 16th a portrait of the Amir Amanullah of
Afghanistan was exhibited on the gate of a serai in the city and numerous lights
hung about it.
Aqa Muhammad Husseinov, a Bolshevik propagandist, who attempted some
time previously to go to India but was prevented by the Police, has returned to
Turkestan.
Atta, son of Murad Kuchani and a well known Bolshevik agent has arrived in
Meshed from Asktabad. Four others in the guise of cattle and horse dealers have
arrived from Turkestan. Their names are : Karim son of Muhammad ; Muham
mad Taqi son of Meshedi Aqa ; Kambar son of Hassan Ali; Habibulla son of
Mosul. . \
Mahmud Malikzada Tabrezi, a Bolshevik propagandist, arrived in Meshed from
.Turkestan via Afghanistan on the 18th instant.
Genera/.—The Police are not popular with the people on account of their con
duct, the number of burglaries that is occurring, and the difficulty in getting redress
on the part of injured parties and complainants. Some public representation may
be made later to Tehran.