Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Far East: China, Volume VII

121.893/9–1947

Memorandum by Mr. Philip D. Sprouse to General Wedemeyer

[Nanking,] 30 July 1947.

Subject: Mongols in Western Manchuria; Mongols in Nanking.

1. Changchun’s dispatch No. 75 of July 11, 1947⁷⁰ describes the political organization among Mongols of western Manchuria. The Mongols are said to have issued a proclamation in January 1946 announcing the formation of the East Mongolian People’s Autonomous Government. While its laws were based on the concept of autonomous rule under Chinese sovereignty, there is no known sanction from the Chinese Government for such action. The character of the Autonomous Laws savors more of independence than of local autonomy. These Mongols had earlier moved for complete independence from China and union with Outer Mongolia, and it may have been under Soviet influence that the change in political strategy-has been brought about. There seems to be no evidence to support the Chinese press claims that hordes of Mongol horsemen are fighting with the Chinese Communists. The Mongols seem to be going ahead with their program, probably on the basis of an agreement with the Chinese Communists recognizing certain “racial rights” in return for Mongol neutrality and passive support which protects the Communist west flank from Nationalist attack. The ultimate aim of the Mongols must be assumed to be a large degree of autonomy from all Chinese control and this would eventually serve Soviet purposes if they were to become closely affiliated with Outer Mongolia and thus with the USSR. The little evidence available seems to support the conclusion that the relationships of the eastern Mongols and the Kuomintang are becoming weaker and more tenuous under recent conditions in Manchuria.

2. Members of the Embassy staff have recently been approached by Mongol officials of the National Government. They claim to represent the majority of Mongols of Inner Mongolia and to be able to influence Mongols in Manchuria as well as those in Outer Mongolia if they received support. They are in contact with the Mongols from Manchuria, they say, and the latter have endeavored to obtain their support for the Chinese Communist-supported Mongols. The Nanking Mongols say they could even win this group over if they could be assured of “racial” autonomy by the Chinese Government, or preferably by the U. S. They also say that they are losing influence among the Mongols of Inner Mongolia due to Gen. Fu Tso-yi’s military operations in that area, where they say Mongolians are fighting against him on four fronts. These Mongols resent current Chinese accusations that “all Mongols are Communists” and also the Chinese racial policy which implies that all Mongols are “Han” people racially.

3. The foregoing is of interest in that this information comes from Mongols who are theoretically “Government Mongols”. Six prominent Nanking Mongols are said to be involved, all of whom hold posts in the Chinese Government. They are desirous of talking with General Wedemeyer or a member of his mission and ask for secrecy in the matter in that they may endanger their lives by talking freely to US officials.

4. The matter of the Mongols is a very delicate one and involves the traditional Chinese Government policy toward them. They do not wish to be Sinicized and resent the steady encroachment of Chinese farmers on their pasture lands. There is a similarity between their position and that of the natives of Sinkiang, who desire local autonomy and oppose the Chinese attempt to impose a colonial rule on them and carry out a program of Sinification.

P[hilip] D. S[prouse]

70. Not printed.