Coll 28/8 ‘Persia; Diaries; Sistan & Kain, April 1927 – 1933’ [‎72r] (154/434)

r
CONFIDENTIAL.
C 5
Diary of His Majesty’s Consulate, Sistan and Kain,
1931.
for the second-half of February
18. Peesian Baluchistan.
21, Persian Officials.
The G. O. C. is encamped with 200
men about 120 miles from Iransheher.
Troops are scattered disarming the tribes.
Idu Khan is at Chahbar assisting the
troops to collect arms.
19. Sistan and Kainat.
On 25th February a policeman was
shot at Birjand while attempting to steal
from the Revenue Office. The police in
Birjand have long been suspected of
thefts and it has been rumoured that
they were encouraged by the Police
Officer.
I Excise officials at Birjand continue to
: be very active in discovering illicit stocks
| of opium.
Municipal Committee has at length
been appointed at Birjand. It had been
in abeyance since the abolishment of
financial assistance from the Central
Revenues.
avy snow fell at Birjand on 23rd,
25th and 26th, and jain in Sistan fcas
exceeded the normal and has fallen
exceptionally late in the season.
H. E. Shaukat III Mulk arrived at
Birjand on 18th. Persian officials took
over charge at Duzdap and Sistan
(Zahidan and Zabul) from the I. E. T.
Department. At Zabul they are unable
to operate the instruments taken over
and are working on the old sets. Traffic
for India is via Tehran and subject to
much delay.
20. Persian Military.
It is rumoured that the G. O. C. in the
I Sarhad, Colonel Muhammad Khan has
been summoned to Tehran in connection
with alleged embezzlement of Funds.
Yawar Iskander Khan is now in Tehran
about to be charger! with the same offence
and Sultan Hamid Nizam has also been
suspended and is proceeding to Tehran.
Sultan Abbas Khan Inspector of Police
Department held inspections at Zahidan
and Zabul during the month.
The Governor of Zabul is shortly |
going to India and Iraq on a visit. As {
he accomplishes nothing whatever in
Zabul, he will not be missed. The
Frontier Commissary Colonel Murteza
Khan will hold charge during the for
mer s absence. Murteza Khan is en
deavouring to secure a transfer from
Zabul. He is disappointed at receiving
no recognition of his services prior to the
Shah’s visit and as the ‘ New Town ’
hastily built by him to impress His
Majesty—at the expense of the inhabi
tants—is now alreaay in ruins as a result
of heavy rain, he comes in for much
abuse.
22. Soviet Activities.
The caretaker in charge of the Con
sulate at Zabul has received his wages
from Meshed. Informers are supplying
news from Zabul to the Soviet Consul-
General there. Russian newspapers |
which used to be distributed here have |
been arriving by post, but have been i
confiscated by the postmaster.
23. Afghan Affairs.
The Afghan Consul declines to issue
passports to Hazaras, as he states that
such passports are confiscated by the
Persians. Similarly the Persians will J
not issue them passports to proceed to I
India. Many are Indian Army pension-1
ers, over the age for conscription and are I
in very bad circumstances and desire to
return to Quetta to seek employment.
Several have relatives now serving at '
Quetta.
It has been rumoured at Zabul at a
number of Russians, formerly in the
service of Amanullah, have recently been
expelled to Russia under escort from
Kabul, etc. Tribes ew route were with |
difficulty restrained from attacking them. .
The Afghan Consul at Zabul has moved
into a house near the British Consulate.
ENCLCSURc IN
INDIA FOREIGN SECR^ARV’S 5
Letter No a 3. j
■ Dated ? APR. 1031
n n *