Evening star., 1949-02-13

revolts, because the nti-Chinese
insurgents have traditionally been
supported by their brethren to
the westward. The present sig
nif1cance lies in the degree to
which this support has Russian
official backing.
Native Rulers 'Liquidated'
1t should, of course, be remem-
bered that Western Turkestan
came under Russian control only
during the latter half of the last
century. Before that. Western
Turkestan had enjoyed turbu-
lent independence. divided into
several principalities such as Kiva,
Bokhara and Samarkand. So
fierce was the resistance that the
Cars thought it wise to placate
the vanquished by keeping the
local monarchs on their thrones,
Russian rule being exercised in
directly in those ''protectorates.' y
That, policy was radically
changed after the ,Bolshevik rev.
olution. The Soviet government
presently ''liquidated" not only
the native rulers but also the
upper and middle classes. estab-
klishing a series of peoples re-
tpublics" run on Communist lines.
A the same time, Moscow trans
formed the regions economic and
social life, bettering commun1ca-
tions, undermining agriculture, In
Producing machine industry. and
spreading popular education. In
the ouarter-century that has
elapsed, a new generation has
grown up headed by leaders de-
voted to communism and loyal to
the Soviet Union.
All this naturally favors Soviet
designs on Eastern Turkestan.
Even the Cars had expansionlst
ideas toward the country, but they
did not have the cooperation OF
their still ill-reconciled Turkish
subjects. while to the Turks OF
Sinkiang the rule of Czarist Rus
sia would have been as alien as
that of their Chinese masters.
Even today, Soviet propaganda en-
counters strong opposition. because
the Sinkiang Turks remain plous
Moslems with conservative eco
nomic and social ideas which in
stinctively reject communism. Un-
fortunately, however, Chinese rule
has been despotic, corrupt. and
inefficient, thereby infuriating the
inhabitants and disposing them to
listen to Soviet agents, especially
when these are their kinsmen.
Russia Inserts Foot Again
Indeed, Russian influence over
Sinkiang was furthered by the
complaisance of the local Chinese
authorities. In 1888 the COVER
nor, named Sheng, made himself
virtually independent Of the Cen
trail government, setting himself
up as typical war lord" and
ruling by extortion and terror.
This rendered his authority so
unstable that he strengthened it
by making a deal with Russia,
granting sweeping economic con-
cessions for economic development
by Russian technicians and Rus
sian capital. The Russians were
even allowed to bring in troops
to guard their installations. This
situation lasted until 1943. That
was the height of the war between
the Soviet Union and Nazi Ger
many. Estimating that Russia
was going to be beaten. Gov.
Sheng made his peace with Peking
and ordered the Russians out Of
Sinkiang. which they were then
in no position to oppose. And
Sheng himself was soon replaced
by an official more amenable to
the Central government. But,
while Sinkiang was thus restored
to Kuomintang authority, Chinese
rule was not made more palatable
to the Turkish inhabitants. The
upshot was that latest revolt which
still maintains itself, pretty OBJ
viously with Soviet support. Mos
COW has thus once more gotten
its foot in the Sinkiang doorway.
And with the collapse of the
Kuomintang Central government,
an outlying dependency like Sinki-
ang is being left very much on
its own.
Indeed, there is considerable
evidence that the local Chinese
authorities are meditating a
IDEAL" with Moscow similar to
that made by the former Gov.
Sheng, under which Russia
would regain it's concessions and
privileged position in Sinkiang.
And in the conditions which now
prevail it is hard to see how the
Russians can be stopped from
getting anything they may desire.
The logical expectation would
seem to be the establishment of
some sort of Russian protectorate.
disguised for while under either
a friendly Chinese administration
or a native Turkish republic"
formed out of the current rebel
regime.
An Opening to India
Should Sinkiang thus pass un-
der effective Soviet control, the
consequences could be momentous
from several aspects. In the first
place, China itself. already flank
ed on the north by a Soviet
Mongolia, would be f1anked on
the west by another Soviet satel-
lite state, thereby increasing
Russian pressure upon any gov
ernment which might evolve in
China and tending to hold it in
line with Russian wishes. Sec
ondly, a et-dominated Sinki-
ang would give Moscow a direct
access to India through a peculi-
arly sensitive avenue-Kashmir.