Asia 755
Russians in Mongolia a privileged status. China wished to curtail that treaty, citing
that the Russian interpretation of the treaty was not the same interpretation in China.
Trouble loomed as Chinese citizens began to flock to Outer Mongolia in accord with
Chinese intentions to establish a presence in the region. Mongolia, mindful that no
one in the international system recognized her independence, concluded an agreement
with Russia on November 3, 1912. With the treaty, Russia signaled its recognition
of Mongolian autonomy and pledged to support the Mongolian army in protecting
Mongolia from Chinese inhabitation in exchange for Mongolian recognition of the
terms of the 1881 treaty.
China did not interpret this treaty favorably, and a series of clashes between China
and Russia in Inner Mongolia resulted. An accord was eventually signed on Novem-
ber 5, 1913, between Russia and China, which ended the conflict. Russia agreed to
recognize the suzerainty of China while China acknowledged Mongolian autonomy.
China had previously interpreted the 1912 agreement between Russia and Mongolia
as a Russian recognition of Mongolian independence. It was essentially a recognition
of the status quo ex ante regarding Mongolia. China recognized Mongolian autonomy
and pledged not to interfere. Mongolia, meanwhile, was disappointed. It too inter-
preted the autonomy of Outer Mongolia as the independence of Outer Mongolia.
MID#3258
Dispute Number: 3258
Date(s): April 18, 1914 to October 18, 1914
Participants: 365 Russia/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side B (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: In 1911, Mongolia declared its independence from China. Russia and
China subsequently agreed to both recognize the independent state of Mongolia. In
1914, Russia made the region of Tannu Uriankhai a protectorate in order to gain an
upper hand in the Chinese railway economy. Neither Japan nor China appreciated the
move, and in late 1914 a conference was held at Kiakhta between the three nations
to attempt to establish some sort of agreement on the status of Mongolia. During that
conference, on November 12, it was reported that Chinese troops in Mongolia were
moving toward the Russian border.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from June 1914. End day changed from Missing.
MID#1142
Dispute Number: 1142
Date(s): December 19, 1917 to December 26, 1917
Participants: 710 China/365 Russia
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute describes the Harbin Crisis that occurred in the aftermath of
the Bolshevik Revolution and the end of the interim Kerensky regime. At the time,