"ملخص للأحداث الرئيسية. ١٩٠٨" [ظ‎‎٦] (١٥٦/١٧)

2
Russo- Afghan
Relations.
Russo-Bokharan
Relations.
The conciliatory attitude adopted by the Russians towards Ishak Khan,
who at the invitation of the Governor-General visited Tashkent in 1907, has
been the subject of several reports throughout the year. During the Zakka
Khel and Mohmand Expeditions both the Sardar and other Afghan refugees at
Samarkand were in high favour and were, it is said, frequently consulted on the
situation in Afghanistan. In June a reception given by Ishak Khan was attend
ed by all the leading civil and military officials in the city. The Governor of
Samarkand, Lieutenant-General A. S. Galkin, utilised the occasion to emphasise
in a speech the friendly relations existing between Russia and Afghanistan and
hinted that, if the Sardar wished, his return to Afghanistan could be easily ar
ranged. Ishak Khan, however, repudiated any desire to return to his own coun
try, and stated that his one ambition now is to make the Mecca pilgrimage.
Again in September Ishak Khan had a long interview with the Governor-
General during the latter’s visit to Samarkand and was invited to visit him in
Tashkent. He is reported to have excused himself on the grounds of ill-health.
In September it was stated that Muhammad Sarwan Khan, late Wazir of
the Governor-General of Balkh, who in the middle of December 1907 fled to
Termez owing to defalcations in his accounts, had returned to Afghanistan. A
subsequent report stated that he had been arrested and taken as a prisoner to
Kabul.
Two Afghan Hakims, Muhammad Hussain Khan of Mazar-i-Sharif and
Mir Alam Khan of Afghan Wakhan, are reported to have fled into Russian terri
tory in April and June respectively.
jamshedi incursion. Eor incursion of Jamshedis into Russian territory vide page 4 under
<£ Afghanis tan.^
It appears from information from three independent sources that Mir
Ahmad (or Alam), son of the late Amir of Bokhara, Mazaffar Khan (vide
page 3 of the li)07 Summary), is generally known by the name of Mansur
Khan. One report states that he was the sixth son of Muzaffar Khan, another
that he was his youngest son. As, however, the late Amir had some 50 wives
and many children it is practically impossible to verify either statement. All
reports, however, agree as to Mansur Khan’s unpopularity in Bokhara owing to
his having become thoroughly Russianised. He is reported to have remained
at Bokhara only a few months and to have then been requested by the Amir to
leave. During his stay at Bokhara he appears to have endeavoured to create
a feeling of discontent among the Bokharan troops by contrasting their
wretched accommodation, pay, clothing, training, etc., with that of the Russians.
He is now residing at Moscow in receipt of an allowance from the Bokharan
Treasury, in addition to that paid him by the Russian Government.
Of the other sons of the late Amir the second son, Saiyid Abdul Malik
Khan, died some years ago in India. The third son was formerly Governor of
Cbarjui, but is said to be now in confinement in Bokhara, as are also four other
brothers of the present Amir. Two other sons of Aluzaffar Khan, Saiyid Mir
Akram and Saiyid Mir Alam, are Governors of Guzar and Karshi respectively.
Russo-persian Re- Pages 15-18 of the 1907 Summary describe the measures taken by Russia
lations - in that year to meet any critical situation that might arise out of the political
ferment in Persia and the incursions of Turkey into that country. These
measures consisted, apparently, of an increase of the forces in Caucasia by
some 5 Battalions, the occupation of Astara, Lenkoran, Julfa and Chikishlyar
by a total force of 5,000 infantry, 900 Cossacks, 24 Maxims and some field or
mountain guns, reinforcement to a small extent of the garrisons of Tejen,
Sarakhs and Pul-i-Khatun, and the stationing of 2 gun-boats at Ashurada
whence frequent visits were paid to Astarabad and other Persian ports on the
Caspian. At the beginning of 1908 rumours were frequent that the troops in
the neighbourhood of the Azerbaijan frontier had been strengthened, more espe
cially at Julfa where some 2,000 infantry were said to be. The latter state
ment was contradicted by M. Isvolski wTio asserted that at this place were 6
squadrons of the Uman (Kuban) Cossacks only; they had arrived there in
1907. At the end of March special enquiries were instituted; from them it