'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎48r] (100/610)

The existence of this independent power in Gilan was directly-
opposed to British policy in Persia, which encouraged the endeav
our of Vusuq-ud-Dauleh, the Premier, to consolidate the power
of the Central Government in the provinces, and in March 1919,
when he prepared a force of Persian Cossacks under Colonel
Starosselsky and requested British help, a British ultimatum was
given to the Jangalis that if they persisted in their opposition to
the Government they would incur our hostility. Kuchik Khan
was offered, as an alternative, asylum under British protection
in Mesopotamia. HajI Ahmad accepted the ultimatum and
surrendered with 500 rifles, Dr. Hashmat, who controlled Lahijan
and the East of Gilan, was negotiating when Kuchik Khan,
who refused to come to terms, crossed to the East of the 1 2 Safid
Bud and forced his hand. They retired South East with the
intention of joining Salar Fatih and the Kujuris, hut on leaving
Gilan their forces dwindled rapidly and in Tunakabun Kuchik
Khan realized the hopelessness of attempting to go further.
3 Dr. Hashmat with 200 men surrendered to the Persian
Cossack detachment which followed them to the vicinity oi-
Khurramabad, and the remaining Jangali forces broke up into
small and scattered bands of outlaws. 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’azzam had
been sent from Tehran as Governor General of Gilan and Govern
ment authority was reasserted, only to alienate the .sympathy
of the province by mismanagement and the misbehaviour of the
Cossacks until Kuchik Khan, who had made his way back to the
West of Gilan, gradually revived his cause and was regarded
by the peasantry as a hero. In October 1919 he was reported
to have about 600 men opposing the Persian Government troops,
who had been sent to suppress them, and he was maintaining
fairly regular communication with Baku via, Astara and Len
koran, whence he obtained assistance of recruits, ammunition
and money.
During the winter 1919-20 combined operations were under
taken against the Jangalis by Cossacks and Amir Muqtadir
of Talish (formerly Zargham-us-Sultaneh) and Kuchik Khan,
again in difficulties, began to parley with the Government. An
armistice was concluded and protracted negotiations tided over
the winter, the most difficult period for the Jangalis, until the
arrival from Baku of Bolshevik ships with a force which occupied
1 In the event of their non-submission the Cossacks were to undertake active
operations against them while the British undertook to hold the towns of Basht
and Enzali, keep open the road, and co-operate with aeroplanes. In accordance
with this plan Basht was occupied by British troops on 29th March.
2 They were attacked by our aeroplanes at the Basht a bad ferry and along
the Lahijan road.
8 Dr. Hashmat was afterwards hanged in Bashf.