Сводка Турккомиссии Turkestan Commission informational summary on the mobilization of Muslims

Translation

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Tashkent 71 No. 0591/II b/s 16/7…Secret

Moscow Presidium VTsIK copy to Sovnarkom CC RKP.

Informational summary for 15-30 June 1920

The mobilization of Muslims

In accord with the order of the Revvoensovet [Revolutionary-Military Council]  of the front and the TurTsIK [Turkestan Central Executive Committee] of 7 May a military mobilization of Muslims aged 19 to 35 is declared with these exceptions:  employees of Soviet institutions, imams, mullahs, mudarisi [medres teachers], teachers and students in all educational institutions.  Recruitment will proceed along three lines.  The first official day of mobilization is 25 June.  (Details by post.)  TurTsIK has prepared a draft declaring 25 July a holiday.  The progress of the mobilization will be reported by post.  Among Muslim communists there is a noticeably strong desire to form independent Muslim units.  The population is not hostile towards the mobilization.  There is reason to believe that approximately 30,000 will be mobilized. 

Universal training.  By order of the Revvoensovet of the front and TurTsIK universal military training is being introduced on 4 June.  Registration is expected to be completed by 15 June.  In Turkestan 63 sport fields have been opened.  An Olympiad is planned for the week of 10 October.

Labor obligation.  The work of the Krai labor committee and its local organs is proceeding apace.  Figures [will be sent] by post.  Regarding foreigners the Turkestan Commission passed a decision to apply the labor obligation to Russian citizens also granting them the right to emigrate if they do not wish to submit to the labor obligation.  The measure seeks to free Turkestan from an influx of foreign speculative elements.  Working dekhans and suppliers of fruit to the food organs are temporarily exempted from the obligation.

Food Supply.

The Sovkom and the Kraikom have undertaken a great deal of work in the sphere of organization.  400 communists have been mobilized by the Krai

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Commissariat under the command of the food-supply organs supplemented by workers of the oprokomturk [Turkestan oblast food committee?] . Strict prices were revised and finally established at 400 rubles a pud paid in advance at a collection point 10 versts for Syr-Darinsk with a similar situation in other oblasts.  The collection of the razverstka [harvest allotment] for 1919 is going comparatively well, we anticipate collecting about 80%. 

The Worker-Peasant Inspectorate.  A mobilization was carried out for the Inspectorate.  The results are reassuring.  The initial investigation is proceeding energetically.  Unfortunately, we have not found an appropriate commissar.  The current one is unfit.

Other decisions.

On 4 June the question of the census was considered.  Carrying it out completely in the conditions of Turkestan is admittedly impracticable.  It was resolved to carry out the agricultural, sample, and urban [censuses] in full.  All the orders of the center on the mobilization of workers for the census are applied mechanically in Turkestan.  There was a review of the estimates.  Two inventors, Falkovsky and Snimishchikov, were given bonuses:  the first for a device for boring through housings on boiler hatches; the second for the economical casting of bearings with babbit alloy and an economical radio discharger.       

Internal trade.

Measures have been taken regarding the opium harvest, 35 thousand puds are expected.  Internal Trade was finally concentrated in Vneshtorg.  An agreement was reached to make 1000 puds of shoe sole leather available at the Kuldzhinsk market at 16 tez[?] a pud.  To stimulate goods circulation, 800,000 puds of salt was released by order of the former B…kinsk department of Vneshtorg.  For the Persian market 100 puds of santonin has been exempted earmarked so far, 50 bales of cloth, a freight car of chinaware.  An appointed representative has been dispatched to Urmuchi.     

Plenbezh [Prisoners and refugees].  For June 1009 of 6396 were evacuated including 250 removed from the Emir factory in Bukhara.

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In the Fergana oblasts.  A stubborn struggle with the Basmachi is ongoing.  The presence of destructive gangs affects the conduct of all mobilization and supply efforts.  The Basmachi go around in small gangs and rob the population.   

Semirechie.  The uprising was finally liquidated.  In order to investigate and to create conditions to carry out the program of neutralizing the kulaks and installing the Kirghiz in the oblasts, a military dictatorship of the Soviet Division has been established (TurkCommission resolution 20 July). under the chairmanship of the former plenipotentiary in Khiva, comrade Skalov.

An extraordinary session of the Revolutionary-Military Tribunal was sent out to Semireche.  All investigative organs are required to hand over their materials to the inquest.  “The Red East” was sent to Semireche for political work and is carrying out important work.

In Syr-Darinsk.  Setting up a Soviet apparatus of the government is proceeding with great difficulty due to the absence of proletarian elements.

The same in Samarkand.

In Trans-Caspian.  Some progress has been made in the matter because all soviet work is in the hands of the political department of the First Army. 

Foreign affairs—Bukhara.  A subterranean struggle and continual preparation for possible incidents is going on.  The seemingly complaisant Emir and the palace clique are extremely embittered.  The government and clergy are preparing the people for a holy war in earnest.  According to the latest information, the mobilization in Bukhara, which has yielded good results, is beginning to break down from within due to the inability of the Bukhara government to come to grips with supply and the destruction of housing stocks.

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Khiva—During the review period a delegation of the Khiva government arrived on its way from Khiva to Moscow .  The delegation attended a banquet arranged by TurTsIK, a session of the Kraikom, and sessions of the Sovnarkom.  The reception made an excellent impression on the delegation.  The Sovnarkom and Revvoensoviet passed practical measures that satisfied most of the demands of the delegation in the realm of the cultural, military, and economic life of Khiva.  Conditions inside Khiva are not good.  The total absence of their own forces and resources causes the completely inert government to heap all the work onto the Russian comrades.    Our representation in Khiva is quantitatively and qualitatively inadequate.

Afghanistan—Disturbances within the forces in Mazari-Sherif continues and worsens.  The rebels speak of Soviet Russia in friendly terms.  The quadrangle of Mazari-Sherif, Grerat, Kerki, and Kerve is held by rebel forces.  The authorities are fleeing to Kabul.  Detailed information on the condition of Afghanistan was supplied by Surits to the People’s Commissariat of Foreign Affairs.  England is taking all measures to pressure Afghanistan.  A large group of 30 Indian revolutionaries was sent from Kabul by order of the Afghan government  and arrived in Tashkent on 2 July and was met enthusiastically by all party and Soviet organizations.       

Persia—According to the latest information the revolutionary mood in Persia is growing fast.  An anti-English movement is simultaneously developing.  Khan Verdi Khodou refused the post of governor that the English offered him and he is waiting for an instance of revolt against the English.  Part of the government stands with Khodou.  In Daraizsk raion deserters seized an order from the murdered

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Commander of the gendarmes which states that if the Bolsheviks enter the territory of Dariazsk raion, then suggest that they voluntarily return to their own territory.  In case a military clash should occur, then fall back in military order on Kuchan where you can join with gendarme brigades and the English.

The work of the Turk Commission is proceeding in a condition of exceptional nervousness in connection with the numerous rumors about changes in the Commission’s staff.

No. 11 Tashkent 30 June 1920.

<<Stamp:  Administration of Affairs of the VTsIK Commission for Turkestan Affairs>>

Chairman of the VTsIK Commission for Turkestan Affairs Kuibyshev