File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎670r] (987/1080)

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING 19 th FEBRUARY 1921 s
No. 8.
Khorasan and North=East Persia.
57. 'Frontiers ,—A telegram dated the 16th instant has been received from
Bandar Gaz to the effect that active hostilities involving considerable loss to
both sides had occurred near Gunbad-i-Qabus between Persian gendarmerie
numbering 300 and the local Turkman. The recovery of tribute was the
issue involved. (Reference is invited to Intelligence Summary No. 50 of
1920, paragraph 467.)
Details regarding the seizure of the cargo of a Persian boat at Gumash
Tapa add that the ship responsible hailed from Krasnovodsk and that the
reason alleged was the failure of the inhabitants to send any commodities to
that port. The inhabitants replied that as they could obtain no cargo in return
it was impossible for them to trade with Krasnovodsk.
Heavy snow has fallen in the Bujnurd district and communication thence
with Transcaspia takes at least S days.
The presence early in the month at Nukhur, in proximity to the Persian
frontier almost due north of Bujnurd, of the Turkman Bolshevik sympathiser
Ovez Baev and of several Bussian commissars is reported but the object of
their visit is not known.
Twenty infantrymen reached Bussian Sarakhs on .the 14fch instant for
duty at frontier posts
The usual market held at Bussian Sarakhs and attended by people from
both sides of the border was recently prpermitted owing to the fear (of Persians
particularly) of those attending being forcibly conscripted for manual labour.
The Bolshevik officials assured the Persians that no fear of such action need
be entertained and that markets would be held as before.
58. Local. —The initiator of the Hafz-i-Qanun society—one Abdul Qadir
Sabzavari, a mischievous ^-employe of the Department of Justice and the
probable writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. of anonymous letters previously referred to,—has with some
of his supporters been arrested by the police.
The Governor-General is reported to be contemplating the formation of
an advisory council including the Agha Zada and certain leading inhabitants
in consequence of the relaxation of the central authority at Tehran.
Discontent of the soldiery due to non-receipt of pay continues and certain
men recently refused to parade unless their arrears were issued.
Herat and Afghanistan.
59. Current events —The Bokharan envoy Abdurrahim with his deputy
Mirza Muhammad Sharif, clerk Mirza Mansur, Military officer Captain
Abdurrasul Sadiq and retinue left with a military escort for Kabul vici Kanda-
Jh a r on the 9th February. In an interview with the Naib-ul-Hukumah he
I stated that the tyranny of the Amir of Bokhara, and in particular his practice
I of commandeering any good-looking female of whom his spies informed
I him—from which the envoy had personally suffered, had forced the suffering
! people to adopt Bolshevik precepts and a regime under wdiich the sanctity of
V the household was assured. Before departure Abdurrahim was admitted to
a final private interview with the Naib-ul-Hukumah, notes of which were,
at the instance of the Naib Salar, made for advance transmission to the Amir
at Kabul.
The Afghan mihmandar was informed by Abdurrahim that he had a
1 plentiful supply of gold coin with him destined for the war-chest of the Amir.
Two servants were sent back to Bokhara with despatches.
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