Mongol Local Autonomy Political Affairs Committee

The Mongol Local Autonomy Political Affairs Committee (蒙古地方自治政務委員會), also referred to as the Pailingmiao Council or Peilingmiao Council, was a political body of ethnic Mongols in the Republic of China between 1934 and 1936. The Nationalist government authorised its establishment in March 1934.[1][2]

Background

The Committee grew out of a visit by Huang Shaoxiong as an envoy to a Mongolian autonomy conference held at Bat-khaalag (Bailingmiao/Pailingmiao) in the aftermath of the Japanese annexation of Rehe Province. Fearful that the Mongols would side with the Japanese and cause China to lose further territory, Huang promised them that they could establish such an autonomous political committee and open up a direct line of communication with Nanjing.[3] Chiang Kai-shek, knowing his government's limited power in Inner Mongolia left his options severely constrained, wrote in his private diary that he would have to grant the Mongols "whatever they desire short of complete political independence". Demchugdongrub served as secretary-general, while Yondonwangchug held the chairmanship.[4]

Membership

Members of the committee included various league and banner nobility:[5]

As well as a number of ethnic Mongol Kuomintang members:[5]

  • Ünenbayan (Jerim League representative in Beijing, Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission member)
  • Enkhbat (恩克巴图; Kuomintang Central Oversight Committee member)
  • Serengdongrub (Kuomintang Central Executive Committee member, Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Committee member)
  • Kesingge (KMT Central Executive Committee reserve member, Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission member)
  • Nima-odsor (Kuomintang Central Committee member)[1]

Operation

The committee was officially inaugurated in a ceremony at Bailingmiao in April 1934.[6] By late June, offices had been installed at the monastery and blessed by its priests.[7] Their clashes with other regional authorities began immediately; both the Committee and the government of Suiyuan Province under Fu Zuoyi attempted to levy tariffs on goods imported from Gansu. Regional nobility such as Shirabdorji of the Urad also did not cooperate with the Committee; in August 1935, Suiyuan forces, seeking to take advantage of their conflict, again confronted Committee troops near Shirabdorji's residence, and forced them to cede further authority to him. The Nationalist government took little action in the conflict. Yondonwangchug, angered by this, threatened to dissolve the Committee in response.[4] The Japanese military watched the conflict closely, and even had its air force make several illegal overflights of Suiyuan in late September.[2]

Collapse

In early 1936, the Japanese had Nima-odsor assassinated, sparking fear among the other Committee members, in particular his close associate Jodbajab, which led him to collaborate with the Japanese.[8] In March 1936, Yondonwangchug resigned from the Committee, after having been effectively retired since mid-1935. Shagdurjab was elevated to the chairmanship in his place, while Demchugdongrub was offered the vice-chairmanship. The council also opened a branch office at Kalgan, headed by Puyintala.[9] The central government later ordered the Committee to move to Chahar; however, the council itself opposed the order at a meeting the following week, apparently because they were reluctant to surrender authority to the new Suiyuan Mongol Council.[10][11] That council, at Guisui (Hohhot), was under the control of Fu Zuoyi, and was also advised by Yan Xishan. Demchugdongrub and Yondonwangchug withdrew to Dehua and established the Mongol Military Government, leaving the Committee defunct.[12]

References
  1. Bolig 2004
  2. "Mongol dispute; Japanese military interested", The Straits Times, 1935-10-02, retrieved 2011-08-04
  3. Lin 2010, p. 43
  4. Lin 2010, p. 49–50
  5. Zhang & Zhang 2006, Ch. 23 §2
  6. "Mongols get autonomy: self-rule is inaugurated in ceremony at Pailingmiao", The New York Times, 1934-04-24, retrieved 2011-08-04
  7. "Mongolia sets up its new capital: temporary offices have been installed in monastery at Pailingmiao", The New York Times, 1934-07-29, retrieved 2011-08-04
  8. Hyer & Jagchid 1983, p. 50 and 131
  9. "Peilingmiao Council reorganised", The Straits Times, 1936-03-23, retrieved 2011-08-04
  10. "Inner Mongolia wavers; recent Nanking order may cause a turn toward Soviet", The New York Times, 1936-05-01, retrieved 2011-08-04
  11. "Transfer to Chahar opposed: decision of Mongol chief at Peilingmiao", The Straits Times, 1936-05-09, retrieved 2011-08-04
  12. Cotton 1989, p. 21

Bibliography
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