Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-31
CHINA REPUBLIC, MONGOLIA EMPIRE

The Hutukhtu Of Urga. the capital
OF Outer Mongolia. was elected en-
peror In 1911.
Buddhisf Iamo when that part
of Mongolia was
pendent Prior to 1911 the Hutukhtu
was simply the religious head of the
nation. He was third in rank Of the
lamalst hierarchy. his superiors being
the dalai lama. the civil ruler of Tibet
at Lhassa, and the pens IN erdeni
lama, the ecclesiastical ruler of Tibet
at Tashihlumpo.
Why this evolution from the religious
Hutukhtu to the political Hutukhtu.
with the commanding title of emperor?
We have no means Of answ ering this
natural query, but assume 1t to be. If
not an Inspiration of Urga itself. pos
sibly the suggestion of Russian
agent
I'm July. 1911" says a writer in the
American Asiatic journal, "a number
Of Mongol princes and lamas held
meeting in Urga to consider the situa-
ton Chinese colonists were crowding
not only was their settlement in Mon
golia in violation of the original agree
ment made with the Manchu govern
ment when suzerainty was acknowl-
Mongols Of the needed pasture lands.
Moreover, the Chinese being very
shrewd traders. it was said they were
loaning money to Mongols at exorbitant
rates of interest upon the security of
their lands, that the Mongols were I'M
al IN nd fhof he hus
obtained possession Of much Mongol
property. Complaints were made, too,
Of the attempts Of the Chinese amban
San To at Urga to introduce admins
trative changes interfering with
Mongol autonomy, and of the military
measures being taken by China. etc.
THE conference decided to send
deputatfon to ask for Russian protec-
ton or assistance. Russia agreed, 1t Ia
said. to use her good offices with China.
At any rate. in August, the Russian
minister at Picking represented to the
Chinese foreign office that the meas
ures being taken by China were likely
to affect the peace Of the border. China
borliness and saying that the reforms
being introduced were for the benefit
of the Mongols, but that instructions
had been sent to the resident at Urga
the feelings of the people. In the fol-
lowing month the revolution broke out
in the province Of Szechuen and mat
tiers in Mongolia were put aside by the
Picking government.
ITO the Mongols the revolution in
China was golden opportunity. In
the tenth moon
China's Rebellion November De-
cember) of that
an Opportunity. year a second
conference of Mongol princes was held
and Outer Mongolia formally declared
its independence of China. The Hutu-
khtu of Urga was chosen emperor and
was crowned with great ceremony on
December %. 1911"
Thus, for the first time, we learn of
the cause of the revolution in Mon
golia and how that people have eStab-
lished an empire.
On February ~, 1912. the Manchu En-
peror of China abdicated and China
merged into republic. Conversations
between Russia and China were re-
sumed, and on April rs the Russian
minister for foreign affairs explained
to the duma Russia's desire and pur-
pose in these negotiations. which was
declared to be not the annexation OF
any portion of Mongolia. but simply in
to mediate between China and Mon
golia and thus protect the autonomy
of Mongolia and the commercial in
terests of Russia.
Discussion between Russia and China
of revision of the treaty of 1881
still went on without definite result.
China was disposed to abolish the free
trade zone along the frontier. Finally,
nounced that. China having failed to
give the notice required for termina-
ton of treaty, Russia was compelled
to regard it as still in force, but that
in order to meet China's wishes as
expressed in August. 1911, the zone of
free trade on the Russian side of the
frontier would be abolished from Janu-
airy /, 1913. China, however, delayed
response, and it was not until May 6,
1914, that a notice was issued by the
free trade zone on the Chinese side OF
the frontier would be abolished from
June l of that year.
Mongolia's declaration of independ-
ence found no recognition abroad. but
it was found in Tibet. A certain
Dordjieff. buriat and a lama, sub
ject of Russia, visited Urga in July.
1912. as the accredited representative
resented to the Hutukhtu that. as
Tibet and Mongolia were both Buddhist
countries. it would be advisable to
enter into convention for mutual
support against the dRSTeSSlOES OI
China. This was done. and on Decem-
Der "a, 1912, treaty between the two
powers was signed in which each rec
ognized the other as an independent
state, and agreed to take measures for
the protection of the Buddhist faith
and for mutual defense against all
dangers, internal or external.
Meanwhile the situation at Urga be-
gan to occupy more and more the at
tention of Russia and
Ruaeo. Monpo1 China. On November
3, 1912, the agreement
Agreement. between Russia and
Mongolia was signed, in which Russia
pledged her assistance to maintain
autonomy and her right to
have her own army and to admit
neither the presence of Chinese troops
on her soil, nor the colonization of
her lands by Chinese. In return for
this Mongolia grants to Russian sub
iects the possession of certain rights
and privileges enumerated in the |
protocol attached to the treaty, among |
which are the right of free trade. leas- :
ing and owning real property, of en-
gaging in mining, fishing and lumber
ing: establishing postal facilities and
streams that flow into Rus !
sian territory. /
efforts to induce the Hutukhtu
emperor to rescind his declaration OF
MANY kilograms were |