Evening star., 1949-02-13

CHINA proper.
Those dependencies extend from
the borders of Asiatic Russia in the
north to the frontiers of India and
Burma on the south. They are
Mongolia, Sinkiang and Tibet. re-
pectively. Their total area is
nearly 100000 square miles-the
size of the United States and con-
siderably larger than China
proper. But since most Of this
huge territory is bleak mountain
or waterless desert, the popula-
ton is scanty and natural re-
sources are limited. For Russia
its value would be chiefly strategic
Once in possession, Moscow woulo
control the entire heart of Asia
and could exercise incalculable
pressure upon China and India
alike.
Penetration Stepped Up
The first stage of Soviet ex-
pansion over this Asiatic heart.
land has already taken place. A
quarter-century ago, Communist
revolution transformed Outer
Mongolia, which adjoins Russian
Siberia, from a Chinese depend
ency into q peoples republic
subservient to Moscow. and this
Soviet satellite is now extending
its rule over Southern Mongolia
which had hitherto remained un-
der Chinese control. Meanwhile
direct Russian penetration is be-
ing stepped up in neighborine
Sinkiang, the connecting link be-
tween Mongolia and Tibet.
Sinkiang is the Chinese name
for a country usually written al
Tentatively on our maps as Chi.
nese or Eastern Turkestan.
Eastern Turkestan is a gigantic
basin of nearly 100000 square
miles, inclosed on every side b!
lofty mountains. This basin, the
bed of a vanished inland sea, ha!
been drying up for ages, most o1
1t today being uninhabitable des'
ert. Only along its mountainou:
fringes are there belts of fertile
land watered by rivers from the
snow-capped mountains unit
these lose themselves in the thirs.
ty desert sands.
First Invasions Failed
Despite It's remoteness. the
country is penetrable from botf
China to the east and the othel
segment of Turkestan to the west
This rendered Sinkiang vita
link in the ancient caravan route
over which the silks and othel
treasured products of China were
borne across Asia to the Western
world. It's commercial importance
tempted early Chinese Emperor
to extend their rule over the
country. the first Chinese invasion
dating before the Christian era
Those first attempts, however
failed. Already settled by Turkish
migrants from the westward. the
inhabitants were characteristical-
ly warlike and instinctively re-
fractory to the Chinese. That
aversion was heightened when
Eastern Turkestan was converted
to Islam.
China's effective control over
Sinkiang dates from about two
centuries ago. when great Chi
nese invasion penetrated the en-
tire country and perpetrated an
appalling massacre. over 100000
persons being slaughtered. That
was probably one-half the entire
population. Nevertheless. Sinkiane
has never been "Chinaf1ed." At
tempts to colonize the country
with Chinese settlers. Moslem OF
otherwise, have not succeeded
The Chinese element in Sinkiane
today consists almost wholly OF
garrison troops, officials ano
their hangers-on. And Chinese
rule has been periodically chal-
lenged by rebellions. The latest
revolt started less than five years
ago and has never been sup
pressed, the rebel regime main
tanning itself in the western Sec
tions of the country adjoining the
Russian Turkestan border. That