File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎535r] (717/1080)

_ Although the old Adalat party has been revived under the name “ Siksa M
it is the Kavkazis who are mainly responsible for the revivifying process,
Persians and Afghans showing a disposition to hold aloof. Impassioned
appeals have been made at Kagan and at Pokhara to raise the lied Plag in
Persia.
Ar cling an.—The belief persists in the Bolshevik mind that English troops
are assisting the Persian gendarmes in Darragaz. In consequence great
vigilance is exercised all along the northern frontier.
Khakistar. —Nothing of importance.
Qalat-i-Nadiri .—A correspondent writing on the 14th July states
that many troops have been seen passing towards Sarakhs from which it is
inferred that an invasion of Persia is eminent. What was seen was in reality
the relief of the Bolshevik garrison of Russian Sarakhs and of the chain of
posts dependent thereon hut the quotation is made to exemplify how little
able the Persian is to avoid being exaggerative.
The correspondent accompanied the Governor of Kalat to the frontier
post of Askar Khan where some Russian soldiers came to meet him. He
states that the soldiers told the Governor that if the British will destrov
Bolshevism the people will be released from their troubles.
Persian Surakhs. —7th to 13th July :—
(i) Three Russian soldiers from the frontier post of Kaudakli crossed the
frontier intb Persia and were arrested. They pleaded ignorance of the situa
tion of the boundary line. The Special Department in Russian Sarakhs
applied for the return of the men which was complied with on the 11th.
(ii) Three motor lorries have arrived in Russian Sarakhs from Tejen to
assist in the transport of grain.
(in) Two plague nurses mounted on donkeys were trying to make their
way to Persian Sarakhs but were arrested by a Bolshevik patrol. They were
interrogated and confessed they were trying to make their way to Meshed on
the advice of one Mehui, a Jadid, who had told them they would be far
better off there. The latter, together with his wife, has been arrested.
(iv) The Bolshevik doctors who went to Sher Teppe and Pul-i-Khatun on
plague inspection duty returned on the 12th and declared that the quarantine
restrictions would be removed on the I4tb. The principal medical officer of the
Bolsheviks held a conference in Persian Sarakhs relative to the existence of
plague or otherwise. The opinion was that it had disappeared. A telegram
in these terms was sent to Tashkent advising abolition of quarantine and the
reply is awaited.
(v) Yakub, Jadid, who was arrested some time ago on a charge of being a
British spy, has been removed to Merv. He was sent out from this office.
(vi) Mirza Hashim, a cloth merchant, has contracted to supply the
Bolsheviks with 1,000 kharwars of bhusa at 5 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. per kharwar. The man
is acting on behalf of Najd-us-Sultaneh, acting Governor-General of
Khorasan. The prevailing price of barley and wheat is 3 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a kharwar
but the Bolsheviks are giving 5 and 6 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , respectively.
174. Trans-frontier.
Krasnooodsk .—The Bolshevik press of late June confesses to the incidence
of cholera at this port and reports 40 seizures and 12 suspicious cases.
Kizil Arvat .—July 2nd. A man who was employed in the railway shops
says that the employment roll numbers 2,000 men. Locomotives and railway
vehicles are repaired, also rifles. He says rails are being cast there, which is
difficult to believe, yet it may be true that the Bolsheviks are trying to turn out
rails in this way in the absence of rolling mills.
Since the harvest the food situation has become a little easier although the
crops were poor.
Turkmen are deputed to go among the Yomuds as propagandists. The
latter are also given some instruction in the handling of arms.