RUSSIA AND MONGOLIA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 205, 18 January 1913, Page 1 (Supplement)

RUSSIA AND MONGOLIA

CHINESE FEAR WAR. SECRET TREATY BETWEEN CZAR AXD THE LIYIXO BUDDAT-l. Republican China lias been shocked by the bombshell that dropped from .St. Petersburg into l'ekin one day a few weeks ago. M. Korovetsez, ex-Russian Minister at Pekin. appeared at Urga, in Outer Mongolia, and concluded a treaty with the Living l'uddah amidst much pomp and ceremony. This treaty (says a. correspondent of the Daily News and Leader) is divided into four main clauses, which give to Russia diplomatic, commercial. military and litiancial rights ill Outer Mongolia. Outer must not be confounded with Inner Mongolia. The latter borders on Manchuria proper. In fact, the Nourishing town of Changchun, where the Russia and Japanese railway systems meet, is actually in Inner Mongolia, which accounts for the great interest displayed by the Japanese in Inner Mongolian questions. Some months ago. when it became evident that the Mancliu regime was about to disappear, one of the most interesting ceremonies that people in these quarters have ever witnessed was the homage paid by the minor princes of Outer Mongolia to the decrepit and half-blind Living Piuddah. All the cinefs paid homage with valuable presents, the average being 000 milk-white ponies per chief, ami the neck of each pony was wrapped in fox-skiifs. In addition, there was much silver bullion, according to the means of each chief. They *wore obeUance to the Living I'nddah, who was formally and actually crowned Emperor of Outer Mongolia, with the title of "Oreat, Length." MARCH I NO SOOTH. The Chinese in their siipineness did not pay to this event, the attention it deserved. They procrastinated as usual. They have been emphatically undeceived, for in the middle of November hordes of Outer Mongolians, well armed, equipped anil mounted, anil generally well found, are marching southwards. The weather is now cold, but cold has no terrors for these men -they delight in it; and heaven help the unlucky Chinese soldiers who attempt to tackle them ill their mountain fastnesses. If is believed, and with good reason, by the ollieials in I'ekin thai, now that these people are let loose, and knowing that they have the absolute backing of I'ussia, they may attack from two sides, probably from the strategic point, of view, where China i-> must, vulnerable at Jehol and Kalgan. As I write telegrams are pouring into the Chinese Oovernniciit reporting the triamphant advance of thousand* of mounted Mongolians in the di-

reetion of Jtihol. They are also re-] ported to lie laying waste the land on j their southward march. This is easily » understood, considering that most of the ) land they are traversing has been "settled" by Chinese in pursuance 01 the Chinese Government policy of ''conquest by colonisation."

INDEPENDENCE OR AUTONOMY?. To go back a little, Russia has plainly intimated that Mongolia must be independent. It is hinted that Russia only desires the autonomy of Mongolia. This is a fallacy. There exists a secret protocol which was negotiated between the special. Russian Ambassador and the Living Buddah. Its contents have been carefully suppressed, but they are known to a few. I happen to be in close touch with some of the Mongolians, who assure me that the terms of the protocol are such that Russia guarantees to provide troops and finances to assist Mongolia against China or "any other foreign nation." These words are significant in view of the open secret that Japan is quite as keen on any part of Mongolia as Russia is.

Such are the bare facte. But by way of explanation it must be remembered that Mongolia is rich as a stock-raising, mineral and agricultural country. There are hundreds- of square miles of virgin land in a belt which experiment has shown can produce wheat as good as any that ever came out of Canada. For years past Russian explorers and intelligence officers have been traversing Mongolia, which is an open book to them. Russia really and firmly believes in a future "yellow peril," and her great object now, apart from commercial coniderations, is the protection of the Trans-Siberian route. Russia finnly b«-' lieves that China may one day become a very important military power, and seriously threaten her Siberian possessions.! Thus Russia strategy demands that Outer Mongolia be a buffer State. Hence the cause of Russia's demand that no Chinese soldiers be permitted in Outer Mongolia. Possibly in making her move in Outer Mongolia Russia has forged the j first link in a chain which when completed will bring the Russians and Japanese into conflict again. J To-day all along the Siberian line in ' the direction of Vladivostok magazines and other importwit military works are going up. Russia nas 250,000 soldiers at the present moment between Irkutsk and Vladivostok. These men are there for a purpose. Interesting developments may be expected at any time.