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10/11/1948 - Tingyuaning, Alashan Territory, Ninghsia by A. Doak Barnett

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS ADB Tingyuanying Alashan Territory Ninghs September Mailed Fom Lanchow Kansu September Mr Walte S Rogers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avene New York N Y Dear M Rogers Seventy miles Vest Ninghsia City small oasis beyond Ho Lan Mouotains quaint walled TingyuSnying This Usually called Wangyehfu local inhabitants rests slope overlooking steppes which stretch toward Outer Mongolia To Southwest olling dunes catch appearance yellow The vistas bleak treeless Tinganying itself nestles shade trees It compact friendly mixed Chinese Mongol population about This small oasis capital Alashan Special Banner Mongols There romantic legend concerning unding Tingyuanying 0iglnally Alashan MongOls Sinklang whence moved vicinity Lake Kokonor Chlnghai about A little years according legend PInce Wang Alashan etuning Peking Kokono bride Prlness At Manchms followea definite policy linking peripheral principalities throne marriage Prince A ashan married beautiful young Imperial Households entourage their return reache present Tingyuanylng Princess became Sad despendent sight plains Mongolla The Prince moved declde farther He moved whole Banne North built Chinese walle townJust please bride There romantic explanation Northward Alashan Mongols They fighting Manchus against Chinese people Sinkiang against Tibetans Kokonor their probably result fighting It motivated desire ceful region desire nearer Manchu Throne which Alashan Banner closely allie The loyalty Alashan Mongols Chinese still continues present Alashan Special Banner maintains cordial relationship Chinese CePzbral Government which marked contrast unstable Central GovernmentMongol relations other areas On Tingyuanying Chinese province Ning According Prince Alashan merely because Alashan territory adjacent tNinghsia territory In actual Jurisdiction Ninghsia Provincial Government extend West Ho Lan Mountains Hsien locate narrow agricultural region East mountains The major province West vided tween autonomous Mongol units Isengol Speelal Banner West Alashan Special Banner These autonomous units directly under jurisdiction Mongolian Tibetan Affairs Commission Central Government Executive Yuan The Mongols Cina Poper organized approximately Banners traditionally ruled hereditary Prince In normal times Banners grouped Leagues which chief mallea Meng Chlang cases electe Banners themselves formally appointea Chinese Central Government Fou Banners however calle Special Banners independent status equal Leages Alashan these Special Banners See attached This shows geographical distribution Mongol units indicate numerical strength Some largest League areas particularly Sinkiang Chinghal where Leagues Banners numerous small sparse Mongol population In regions shown Mongol areas further Mongols minority group within total population Although Leagues Special Banners normally directly under Mongolian Tibetan Affairs Commission organizationa confuse recent developments which I describe shortly areas particularly where Mongols Intermixe Other racial groups Mongol political organization meely government under provincial administration region In Ninghsla however Ho Lan Mountains deflned Ic political boundary Alashan Ba Government Tingyuanying handles affairs IO OCO Mongols within region definite territorial Ther definite boundary between Jurisdiction large Alashan Territory Ninghsla Proper which follows crest mountalns To specific example territorial Jurisdiction which Alashan possesses Mongols allowe Tingyuanylng includes Han Chinese cannot It Alashan rltory covers almost Ninghsla Povlnce larger territory administered Ninghsia Provincial Government Similarly Edsengo Special Banner territorial jurisdiction West Administratively Alashan Banner greater degree autonomy other Mongol groups Mongol eglons elsewhere included general provincial administrative system broken conventional Chlnese administrative divisions Hslen This Aiasan Although Chinese influence Banner Government strong local administration entirely Mongol forms The Banner territory dlvde Baga ruled Pien Kusn Prince A number Eastern Baga grouped together three larger units which under Tsung Kuan appointed Prince The whole administration highly centralized There popular embly andaorders instructions Banner Government where power concentrated hands Prince assisted three lslell Tssngchlng equivalent counsellors specsl secretaries Ch G Chang depsrtment heads vsrious other functonsrles Te present Prince Alashan nsmed Ta Wang genial connoisseur horses smateur photographer He years Prince duties sfter father desth During youth spent eight years Peking private tutors appears enlightened progressive person He become Chinese though csnnot speak native Mongol 1snguage although uDderstands This diinished popularity among Alashan Mongols however territory stable peaceful regions China Because autonomous ststus Alashan Special Banner sometimes called Kingdom Alashan integral China In polltialmatters faithful following structlons Mongolian Tibetan Affairs Commsslon Which msitalnsarepresentativeinTingyuauylngThePrince member Executive Yuan Central GOvernment Central Executive Committee Kuomlntang In military matters Alashan comes under General Chang Chih chung Northwest Headquarters Lanchow The Prince generalin Chinese Army title Area Defense Commander uoder command about Mongol oldlers three battalions tralned Pace Preservstlon Corps troops cavalymen mounted stocky Mongolian ponies These roops financially suppor Central Government Perhaps because strong Central Government Chinese orientation Alashan Special Banner maintains connections other MOngol groups RelatiOns between Alashan Banner Government Ninghsia Provincial Government dfficult define somewhat touchy delicate Prince Ta describes relationship personal friendship between himselfand Ninghsia Governor friendship formed between their fathers T Wang Ma Fu hsiang There factors however which relationship complicated statement would indicate Ninghsia Governor General Ma Hung maintains battalion Of about provincial troops outskirts Tingyuanying protection against bandits garriSo force takes conscriptees Chinese Alashan approximately Chinese Alash almost environs Tingyuanying citywall The Prince member Alashan member private citizen Ninghsa Provincial Commssion highest ranking provincial organ Alashan Territory depends almost requirements imports Other areas particularly Ninghsia there resentment Alashan because General Ma control grain makes difficult obtain needed supplies General Ma On other claims China Mongols gradually turning Communist drifting toward close llegiance Outer MongOlia Complains Central Government allow situation handled properly Thee hints sides Ho Lsn Mountains General Ma Hung would exercise direct contro Mongol regions Ninghsla dissuadea steps establish control Central Government opposes action gives moral support Alashan Special Banner During Sino J apanese War however General Ma establish direct control West Ninghsia temporarily At loyalty Mongols China suspect because Japanese puppet Mongol regime North China Further cause suspicion regarding Alashan notorious Japanese General Doihara visited Ta Wang On basis suspicion Ma Hung troops crossed mountains Alashan capital after fighting Ta Wang Lanchow where honorable detention under surveillance until although evidence collaboration Japanese uncovered During peric Ma Hung troops exercised local control their camps outside walls Tingyuanying One incident which place remembered Alas Nongois New street numbers issued Tingyu nying bottom there appeared small Chinese characters Tingyuanyl Hsien These signs systematiczlly rapidly removed local ongols At present however despite these facts relations between Asha Banner Gvernment Ninghsia Provincial Government appear relatively stable placid although suspicion continues sides Within Alashan Territory calmly among ongol population I0 sprinkled thinly throughout steppes deserts The tremendous disees aetal avenmental functiona mlnimal average Hongol nomad lives selated inependen exlsen As families congregate family independent which moves periodically place place Within Baga territory graze family sheep camels horses other animals The within whole region Tingyuanying other permanent settlements mainly scattered lamaseries Lamaism plays important lives ongols region The Go vernment impinge deeply lives these nomadic people ducation example almost existent reason being ongols consider education bothersome according members Banner Government There secular schools whole Territory mxcept Tingyuanying where Banner Government maintains primary6and middle sChoolDespite minimal character governmental functlo however order peace maintained throughout trememous rgion Banner traops troops attache Baga Pien KUan banditry disorder Completely eliminated One reason Banner Government cannot attempt expand functions activities present financial weakness The outside financial which receives Central Government support Banner troops received Central Government exploitation lakes region Its local sources revenue consist mainly taxes animals transport traded commodities General economic conditions among Alashan Mongols probably better however other Mongol region China Alashan Banner unlike other Banners Leagues directly touche O civil strife As consequence relative prosperity prevails Even Alashan Tmrritory however economic conditions compared better years Thee starvation thsre Alashan Mongols short During yeasts furthermore beggars appeared among Alashau Mongols first within memory people The cause existing economic hardship drought The economy nomadic population might Called Grass Economy livelihood people entirely dependent vagaries weather During years weather There severe drought animals Another contributing cause decline trade China although Alashan deserts steppes remote economy nomadic Mongols there partially commercialized The Mongol exports sheep camel leather other animal products In addition numerous Salt normally exported considerable quantities places through Northwest China Ho Lan Mountains Ninghsia These export products transported camel caravansand carts Paotow Lanchow Tinjuanying Ninghsia City other trading centerS important single being Paotow The motor maintained erritory trail Tingyuanying Ninghsia City periodically impassable I horseback mountains The foyer direct Suiyuan Sinkiang motor which skirts border Outer Mongolia recent years Trade present therefore carried almost entirely camels trails leading frwater water Trade continues aImost trade China scale diminished during decade disorder The northern border Alashan Territory touches Outer Mongolia miles This border completely closed intercourse Despite ominous claims Ma Rtmg however there appear strong attraction exerted Outer Mongolia region All Inner Mongolians afraid Outer Mongolia Says Ta Wang although developments other Mongol areas support statement Alashan there apparently almost sentiment Outer Mongolia Chinese CommunistFurthermore although there emigre families Outer Mongolia lashan there recent eviden underground activity The border carefully patrolled sides troops Mongolia Ta Wang three battalions cavalry pesent least there friction Alashan relations northerm meighbor experience Communism always placid present In Chinese Christian General Feng Yu hsiang during period collaboration Soviet Union Ninghsia City Tinyuanying Urga 0uter Mongolia capital alled Ulan Bator route bringing supplies Soviet Union A sizeable supply trucks operated steppe desert route where motor existed during period aents troops Feng foclbly occupied Tingyuanylng exercised direct control months A thereafter small organized Communist underground carried Tingyuanylng imprisoned local officials several The Mongols throughout Banner Territory indignation however c0nveged besieged after almos fighting killed captured Communist leaders restored their Government Two years Communist agent Outer Mongolia arrested boder making toward Tingyuanylng Most recently Winter small Communist Was discovered Tingyuanylng plotting against Banner Government These events Wang Banner Government Watchful somewhat uneasy present AIashan Territory remains stable prosperous peaceful Mongol regions By contrast fortunate Alashan Mongols large entage Mongols China ravaged still nvolvd confused civil strife political disorder Thls particularly regions Manchuria Inner Mongolia where China Mongols havily concentrated namely Western Manchuria provinces Jehol Chahar parts province Sulyuan The Mongols Sinkiang Chinghai numerically unimportant spite large number groups their distribution When Japanese occupied North China puppet Mo state called Meng Chiang In establishing theoretically independent Mongol government obtained eratlo Teh Wang Prince Teh powerful leader Silingol League North Chaha Prince Teh Meng Chiang eightyears proud Mongols North China still remembgr h0stalgically Genghis Khan whose artifacts incidentally Chinese repoSitOry Mongol territory Kansu experienced nominal autonomy which Chinese willing grant reion In Summer Russian troops converged Kalgan Chahar pronged drive against Japanese Meng Chiang shared which brought Japan puppet regimes Prince Tehfirst sought refuge Peiping later conferred Chiang K Nanking managed avoid collaborationlst charges At present living retirement Peiping rfuses eooperate Chinese Central Goverrnent until receives pledges Inner Mongolian autonomy which satisfy demands With Russians troops representing estimated One million Mongols Svlet satellite Mongolian People Republic 0uter Mongolia Soviet Buriat Mongol Republic East Lake Baikal TheMongol troops trained equipped favorably impressed Mongol Inner Mongolia As oonsequence former Meng Chiang leaders Inner Mongolian Provisional Government Russian Mongolian encouragement When Russian Wlthdrawm Kalgan political organization behind estimated several thousand Mongols including educated young Prince Th Soviet Union tranlng When Russians moved Kalgan Chinese Communists The Inner Mongolian Provisional Government reorganized Inner Mongollan Autonomous Association tutelage named Yun Tse Moscow trained Mongol Who Chinese Communist agent among North Chlna Mongols The egolswho would cooperate under Communist auspleeS puged Autonomous Association gadually increased fllowlng among Chaha Suiyuan Mongols basis program local autonomy abolition Of Special rights hereditary pIvileges Mongol Princes TheSe developments however directly region where majority Mongols concentrated namely Weste Manchuria adjacent province jeh01 At Sino Japanese War Mongol groups region which estimated combine Mongolpopulation almost millions three feelers Chinese Central Government Outer Mongolians Chinese CommunistS The Central Governent sympathetic their demands aumomous regime their delegates beyond Peiping The Outer Mongolians treated their delegates promised perhaps because afraid compromising their Owa newly recognized idependence The Chinese Communists responded warmly willing offer In April Yun Tse Chength capital Jehol negotiated Mongol repPesentatlves there Soon hePeafter autonomous Mongol regime Wang Yeh Mia0 about miles West Harbin Manchuria In Fall General Fu Tso eoccupled Kalgan Central Gove rnment drove Communists Sulyuan Chahar Tun Tse Mongol leaders Inner Mongolian Autonomous Association Kalgan Wang Yeh Miao early I47 Inner Mongolian ManchurianautOnomy movements Mongol utonomOus Government Yeh Miao capital Tun Tse president This Government began cooperate actlvelywlth Chinese Communist forces Mnchuria cavalry carrie numerous agains territory trolle Central Government Some harme Mongol groups North Chahar SUiyuan Is reporte Mongols those regions evelope counter revolutionary attitude towai Government Manchuria This Mongol Government conInes function however receive Russian support ammunition return horse sheep silver although reports obviously canno definitely verified Other reports tconfirme Wang Yeh Miao regime having difficult Tse popularity recentlY considerably among Mogois The Mongol situation anchuria further cplicaed reports North another independent regime Set under leadership named Irkimbat This regime saldtO print money maintain separate rlaions Wang Yeh Miao andUlan BaOr Not Chlna sMongols involved these complieae autonomy moVements however The presen situatiof NinghSla Mongols alreadybeen describe The Ohinghai Mongols tremely small group remove major conflict areas China srict control General Ma Pu Chinghai administration The Sinkiang Mongols small group Alhough enlisted autonomous Government Northwest Sinkiang there Mongol autonomy movement rovince Mongols remained loyal Central Governmeht Suiyuan Province Of disturbedCivil War regions North China there agroup Banners Which remai loyal Chinese Central G0vernmnt throughout Sine Japanese Waran uphesdquarters DJassek 0rdos Desert Is SoutB Suiyuan instead Joining Teh Wang puppet 0vernmemt Tese Mongols total about 250000 organized Mongolian Self Government Political committee headquarters KUng Miao about miles South Paotow Through organlzatlonthey Joinly MOngolian Tibetan Affairs commisslon instead dealing Commission indivldally The Kung Committee strongly Connunist Is favor united autonomous Mongol governmental organ The Central Government agreed principle favors separate autonomous Mongol administrations various regions Some friction withthe Central Government takes place unsolved Controversy These Mongols Central Government provide defense purposes particularly against Communist raids their taken Russians forthcoming These problems reported discouraged Mongols region partic Ularly younger leaning toward Chinese Communists Mongol autonomous movements result I South 0rdos Desert Ikh Chao partIcularly discouragement combined severe famine stavstlon undoubtedly abetted partially successful communist efforts proselytizing among Mongols there These facts situation eneral stuatlon China efles generalization I generalization possible however Mongolsin China cultural political autonomy In Ala Territory whleh IS geographically removed Civil Wa zones where autonomy exists fairly degree peace stability loyalty Central Government prevail In other areas where effeetlve autonomy ganted Mongols taking advantage pevai Ing chaos encouragedby other groups Chlnes Commumists Russians Outer Megol merged their struggle autonomy aleady Icated ssues which current military plStical conflicts present China Sincerely yotLrS Doak Barnett