"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية: العمليات في بلاد فارس ١٩١٤-١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎٢‎٤‎٦] (٥٦٦/٤٩٩)

436
OPERATIONS IN PERSIA
Trans-
Caspia ;
December
1918 .
in Russia and particularly in Trans-Caspia. On the other hand,
they realised that the loss of the Trans-Caspian railway would
enable the Bolsheviks to threaten Krasnovodsk and would
prevent repatriation of the Austro-Hungarian prisoners of
war*. The Bolsheviks might also penetrate into Persia, as
with the withdrawal of the British detachments no reliable
troops would be available in Trans-Caspia. But there were
insuperable objections to further British financial assistance
to the Trans-Caspian Government. After pointing out that the
advent of General Milne's troops to the Caspian would help us
in attaining the objects given in their telegram of the 12 th
December, the India Office asked for the views, both of the
Government of India and of General Malleson regarding the
probable result if the latter did not give any further financial
assistance for the time being. The views of the Government of
India on the general situation also were requested.
This telegram was repeated to General Malleson on the 30th
December and crossed one from that officer, which said that at
the front the Bolsheviks were very weak and despondent but
the Trans-Caspian force was in even worse case and their
Russians were deserting. Plenty of Turkomans were available
and willing to serve in the Trans-Caspian force, but the Russians
who were j ealous or afraid of them, would not agree. The Trans-
Caspian Commander-in-Chief urged that a stronger Trans-
Caspian Government should be formed or that the British
should take control. The Trans-Caspian Government, said
General Malleson, were without power, prestige, money or
credit. They would almost certainly collapse within the next
three days and, unless we were prepared with a programme,
would be succeeded by extremists who would join the Bolsheviks,
while the Trans-Caspian front would break up unless we inter
vened. The uncertainty regarding future British policy
prevented respectable people from taking part in the Govern
ment. General Malleson said that he could rely on the Turko
mans, who with our troops largely commanded the situation ;
and he urged the necessity for, at least, preserving order till
the allied policy had been decided. He recommended that,
when the existing Government resigned, he should put in an
emergency Government of five members, including two promi
nent Turkomans, who would proclaim martial law, punish all
* A German Red Cross Mission had recently arrived at Askabad with a view
to repatriating prisoners of war, and General Malleson was endeavouring to
negotiate with the Bolsheviks for leave to allow this Mission to proceed to
Tashkend.