File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎640v] (928/1080)

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Martial law was proclaimed in Meshed on April 5th and all newspapers
suspended from publication. Martial law has also been instituted at Quchan.
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Measures are being taken to expand the numbers of the Gendarmerie. *
Muhammad Taqi Khan is of opinion that thq Barbaris will support him but
thinks little of the Timuris. The former are rather precise about the con- ^
ditions of service. Hundreds of them served us in the Khorasan and Sistan
; Levies also in the Indian Army. In consequence, their conditions include the
stipulation that all their officers must be Barbaris and that their pay and
general provision must be the same as that afforded them by the British
Government.
Nominal Governors have been installed in certain of the sub-provincial
governorships but a gendarme officer is in each case the de facta adminis
trator,
Cis-Frontiee.
103. Bandargaz .—It is rumoured that the Bolsheviks have failed to retain
possession of Tiflis.
The movements of Lenin are as much a subject of rumour in this
region as they are in Turkestan. Whatever form the rumours take they have
a common feature, namely secession from or extrusion from the Moscow
camarilla. Some say the cause of cleavage was the Anglo-Russian Trade
Agreement of which Lenin was in favour, but opposed to which were the
more fanatical Trotski, Bukharin,, Kamenev, and Chicherin. It is idle to
speculate, however, without a knowledge of facts.
The frontier war between hostile Turkmans and gendarmes appears to
have died out for the latter returned to Bandargaz on the 25th March.
Bolshevik political philanthropy towards Persia appears to include (places)
the re-cession of more places than Firuza, Ashurada Island is mentioned as
awaiting the arrival at the end of March of a Bolshevik official entrasted with
its restoration to Persia.
The correspondent at this seaport continues to notify unrest among the
khawanin of Mazanderan. He states that fighting is in progress between
Government forces and the followers of Ismail Khan, Amir-i-Muayyid.
The gendarme force which was at Firuza Koh left for Mazanderan on the
31st March. Later reports testify to their defeat of the troops of Amir-i-
Muayyid at Sari who fled towards Sawad-i-Koh. Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Jalil and other
khawanin took part in this conflict.
Arrivals from Russia complain of the economic situation there and the
migration towards Persia of people who are hopeless of an amelioration of
fortune in Russia. Meshedi Kambar, a leading light among Muslim Bolsheviks
has returned to “ seek a peaceful life in Persia.”
Bajnurd .—Attention has been directed to the Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Mu’aziz of Bajnurd
but information is too nebulous at present to admit of comment. News has
been very scanty from this direction of late and steps have been taken to
bring about an improvement.
Jiristan. —The belief is still prevalent on the Northern frontier that the
; British Government is reinstating Muhammad Ali Shah on the Persian throne.
* Thus have recent events at the Capital been interpreted.
Food requisitions among the Turkmans of Askhabad and district are said
by this correspondent to have resulted in protests by and arrest of the victims.
A house search was instituted, leading to the discovery of hoarded grain, arms,
and even bullion. . A similar requisition carried out in the village of Nakhur
resulted in a beating for the foraging party, the despatch of a punitive party,
and the flight of the elders of the village into Persia.
These stories are probably echoes of the activities of the “ Supplies
Detachments whose organization has been noted in previous Summaries
This correspondent mentions the following frontier posts to have been
evacuated by the Bolsheviks :—
1 . Firuza
2 . Salikli
3. Chaik
4. Garmab