"تقارير إدارية ١٩٢٠-١٩٢٤" [و‎‎١‎٨‎٤] (٤١٢/٣٧٢)

Ardbhtan trouble.—Thar a was a great deal of talk and speculation about
tMs affair while it lasted. The Russian wireless was busy with the report that
^ high officials in Kerman " were in favour of Shaikh Khaza " al ^ the Russian
^ Kusia " which was circulated by the Soviet Consul contained a number of
gross mis-statements of our attitude in the matter; and the satisfactory outcome
of the negotiations at Ahwaz was hailed with great relief by tlie Governor-
Oeneral and all moderate officials and non-officials.
The Press.—The Press in Kemian has hitherto been chieiiy represented by
the notorious demogague Dargahi's occasional publication 44 Nameh Farhang
This paper bad teen stopped in 1923; but, although he had received no sanction
lo republish, one number appeared in middle of February. A second issue
appeared the 15th April in which Dargahi openly attacked Sardar Mua"zam
tl'.o ex-Govemor-General in regard to his conduct of the elections. In a sub
sequent number published at the end of July Dargahi, who was theia candidate
for a vacancy in the Medjliss and who was being warmly supported by the
Soviet Consul, issued another number in which he vented his spleen on English
policy in Asia. Tbis was the last number ©f the 4 4 Nameh Farhang '' issued dur
ing the year. Dargahi's dangerous intrigues had brought on him the hostility
of the Ilais-i-'Quislmn as well as of the Governor-General, The Local Govern
ment managed to get orders from Tehran for his deportation ; and, though this
was immediately cancelled, tlie up-shot was that the Governor-General who ha;l
practically tendered Ms resignation over this issue was permitted to take such
action in regard to Dargahi as he considered advisable in the interests of the
peace in the province. Dargahi who, thanks to the help of the head of the
Police, had never been arrested, disappeared to Tehran and lias not since
returned to Kerman.
During the summer some moderately inclined democrats conceived the idea
of re-starting the ' Bidari ' an old newspaper in Kerman. They approached
H. B. M. 's Consul for assistance in the matter of money and news. Major Fowie
made no promises and referred tne matter to Tehran. Towards the end of the
year they had received sanction for the publication, and one or two numbers of
their paper have since appeared^ The Editor of the paper, Hashimi, is a de^
uiocrat; but he lias so far kept his paper free from any objectionable political
ibias.
The Calcutta paper u Habl-ul-Matin '' continued to circulate regularly in
Kerman. Its openly bitter tone against Britain and its mischievous lies about
the Arabistan crisis in particular were the subject of much surprise and com
ment on all sides. It undoubtedly caused a great deal of mischief,
11. Bmsmn Activities.'—(a) Political. —It is all too natural a transition
from local politics to Russian activities in Kerman in 1924. Nothing very
much happened while M. Zaslavsky remained here as .Soviet Consul, though he
gave a certain amount of active support to the democrats while the agitation in
favour of a republic was going on. He left Kerman at the end of July and was
succeeded by M. Alexander Laktionoff who has proved himself to be a much more
active propagandist. M. Laktionoff who was a former member of tie Cheka,
and has been actively connected with Soviet propaganda is a man about 45—50
years of age. It is- believed that at one time he suffered imprisonment for 3
years on account of his revolutionary activities. He speaks Persian fluently,
knows Turkish and has taken up the study of Urdu. Whether this last is with
an object of corresponding with India is not known. It is also not known
whether he has any secret channel of communication with India either through
Duzdab or Bandar Abbas. But it is worth remarking that on his way from
Bushire to Kerman he called on the Karguzar at Bandar Abbas, Sadeed-us-
^altanehj an official who is notoriously unfriendly towards us, M. Laktionoif,
"vyho exchanged mils both with my predecessor and myself, had no other rela
tions with this Consulate during the year.
He set to work immediately after his arrival to organise '' social centres ''
in the Kerman town and province with, the help of local extremists such as
Dargahi, Rafii and others. He instructed these people to join hands with the
"workers and try and get members elected froni the working classes, such as
weavers, etc., to a Municipal committee. At the same time the process of brow-
heating the Governor-General and interfering with the local officials began. By
threatening the Governor-General that there would be disturbance in the town
unless the latter cancelled summons he had served on two socialists in connection
with a local dispute he forced the Governor-General to give way. In August,
with the help of the Officer Commanding and the principal socialits, he started
Lc39ayD