File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎634v] (916/1080)

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Ilonse searches have been instituted leading to the discovery of numbers of
arms of varying descriptions.
Mirza Hussein Quli Qazalbash of the Afghan Legation, Teheran, arrived
in Meshed on the 9th April en route to Kabul where he has been summoned to
an interview with the Amir. He was dined by the Afghan community on the
13th.
The Aghazade, chief ecclesiastic of Khorasan, and reported to be verv
wealthy, was restrained from performing his intended pilgrimage to Mecca and
a gendarme guard was stationed on his house. Some resentment among the
mullas and mu.itahi.ds is reported as arising from these occasions. He was
finally released and has proceeded to India via Duzdab, en route to Mecca.
The arrests during the week under review included Mirza Muhammad
Malikzade, editor of the local democrat paper, Taza Bahar.
Owing to the closing down of the Meshed branch of the Imperial Bank of
Persia, the lack of banking facilities is being felt by local merchants who aro
considering alternative schemes of starting a concern of their own or of askin'r
their Government to assist them with a State organization.
An enquiry is proceeding into the alleged disappearance of the property of
Persian subjects which had been lodged in their Consulate at Askhabad during
the Bolshevik unfLPersian activities there. Nikonovich, who was Komissar
for Foreign Affairs at Askhabad and present at the time, is reported to have
thrown some light on the matter.
The family of the deposed Governor General, Quwam-us-Sultana, was per
mitted to return to Teheran but have not availed themselves of this sanction.
Some considerable influx of pilgrims to the shrine of the Imam Riza is noted,
including about thirty Pathan families from Herat.
Military .—The arrest of Salar Amjad, Commander of the infantry in
Khorasan, caused some stir and not a little anxiety among his subordinate
officers. The Military Governor ordered a parade of troops at which he out
lined his reasons for arresting their leader and promised a commission to
enquire into the charges leading thereto.
Surplus rifles in charge of military units are being transferred to tho
gendarmes. Deficiencies are reported with consequent nervousness among
officers.
There has been some marching and countermarching of parties and detach
ments of troops and gendarmes, principally between Meshed and Quchan. These
measures have been dictated partly by events in Dturringer and Darragaz, partly
in connection with the arrests of officials in outlying districts, and partly to keep
up a show oi military strength.
A small gendarme detachment has been removed to Darragaz. Nothing
suggestive of penal action against the murderers of the late Governor, Riza Khan,
has transpired despite the peculiar brutality of the act and the status of the
victim. It is thought that the authorities in Meshed do not feel themselves to
be sufficiently strong at the present juncture to proceed against Zabardast Khan
and Mursal Sadiqov. *
Another detachment of regular troops and gendarmes was to proceed to
Turbat-LHaidari where martial law has been proclaimed.
Salar Muzaffar. who commanded the troops in Khorasan, was among the
officers arrested. The whole of his movable property, including horses, mules,
arms, etc., has been taken over by the gendarmes.
A Persian officer, Salar Nasrat, who was officiating in command of the troops
in place of the last named has resigned his post and has been succeedec /
Captain Ismail Khan, a nominee and confidential officer of Colonel Muhamma
Taqi Khan.
The regular troops in Meshed were four months in arrears of pay. Hik-
months’ pay has now been disbursed.
Orders were received to merge the troops into the
has now been effected.
Enlistments for service in the gendarme force are.
Barbaris.
gendarme force. Tins
proceeding and includ
n