Evening star., 1939-08-06


truggle for po1Oer in Asia
Wide World Photo.
ponent of the Soviet Union. It is even
more closely tied to the Soviet Union
than Cuba is to the United States. 1t
retains its own Mongol administration, a
government of Mongol leaders, but the
social and political ideas behind it are
Soviet, and the social reforms it is work
ing out are Soviet-inspired.
Constitutionally Mongolia is a Soviet
republic. governed under Soviet system
headed by Peoples Assembly or Hurul-
dan and premier at the head of a cabi-
net OF ministers. 1t is protected by
Soviet might, trade and economy are
Soviet-directed, the exploitation of ma
tural wealth and industry falls to the
Soviet Union, and all communication
between Outer Mongolia and the outside
world is limited to closely controlled
Soviet channels.
But over this thoroughly Sovietized
remnant Of the once great empire of
Genghis Khan is the fiction-very thin,
to be sure-of Chinese sovereignty,
recognized in formal treaty between
China and Soviet Russia.
Started Under Nicholas III.
Influence over Outer Mongolia is no
new thing for Russia. Penetration was
begun first under Gar Nicholas II
simultaneous with the building of the
Trans-Siberian Railway and the clash of
Japanese and Russian imperialisms in
East Asia.
Russia's hand was deep in the Mon
golian discomfort which resulted, at the
time of the 1911 revolution against the
Manchu dynasty in China, in Mongolia s
declaration of autonomy, and Russia sue
ceeded four years later in making her
self practically co-sovereign with China
over this portion of Chinese territory.
The Soviet government never lost its
interest in Outer Mongolia and Soviet
imperialism in the Far East, eclipsed
during the civil war, reasserted itself in
1921 in spite of the magnanimous re-
nunciation of the special rights the
Cars government had acquired in
China in collaboration with the other
western powers.
The Outer Mongolian revolution
against Chinese rule in 1921 and the
revolution which followed the death of
the Living Buddha, Mongolia's theo-
cratic ruler, in 1924-were both Soviet
inspired and directed. A Chinese Rus
sian treaty in 1924 re-established diplo-
matte relations between the two govern
ments and recognized Chinas sover-
eighty over an autonomous Outer Mon
golia, which is to say open to Soviet
influence.
On balance Outer Mongolias political
Importance is out Of all proportion to it's
economic value, either as a market for
industrial products or as a source of raw
materials. With population of about
100000 in an area of million square
miles more than third the size of the
United States-it has less than one per-
son per square mile.
Vital to Russia, Japan.
Its fate is of little consequence to
western powers. There are no American,
British or French interests there. Yet it
is vital point between Russia and
Japan and what happens to it may af-
feet not only Far Eastern history but
European and world history as we'll.
Japan is committed to seeking su-
premacy in the Far East. She can not
have that supremacy as long as Soviet
Russia is Far Eastern power, but the
election of Russia is the final step. Be-
fore that stage Japan has several
hurdles to negotiate. and difficult they
may prove to be.
First she must consolidate her hold
upon that part Of China already con-
quered so that she need not seriously
fear any counter-offensive by Ma
tionalist China.
Second, and she is already engaged in
this step, she must dislodge the United
States, Great Britain and France one by
one from their entrenched positions.
When she has accomplished these two
aims she will be ready for Russia.
The recurring border incidents settle
no issues between Russia and Japan.
Likewise they create no important new
ones, for the issue on which the next
Russo-Japanese war will be fought al
ready exists. But they are important as
symptoms of growing hostility and as
trials Of strength before the main issue
Is Joined.