Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/817

 MONGOLIA 765

Sovereign and Government will assure to Russian subjects and Russian commerce as in the past the full enjoyment of their rights and privileges as enumerated in the Protocol, and it is clearly understood that no other foreign subjects in Mongolia shall be granted fuller rights than those accorded to Russian subjects.

On November 5, 1913, after prolonged negotiation, an agreement was reached in Peking between Russia and China, whereby Russia recognised Outer Mongolia as part of Chinese Territory under Chinese suzerainty, and China recognised the autonomy of Outer Mongolia. Both countries agreed not to send troops to Outer Mongolia other than as consular or official guards, and not to colonise its territory. Autonomous Outer Mongolia is denned as the territory formerly under the jurisdiction of the Chinese authorities at Kobdo, Uliasutai and Urga. Frontiers and other questions were settled at a tripartite conference between Mongolians, Chinese, and Russians, which were concluded in June, 1915.

In October, 1913, a war loan of 2,000,000 roubles was granted to the Mongolian Government by Russia. The advance was secured on certain revenues from districts near Kobdo, where Russian tax-collectors had alreadv begun operations. In December, 1914, a Mongolian Bank was established. The capital has been fixed at 1,000,000 roubles, and the directorate of the bank is to be in Petrograd, with branches at Urga, Uliasutai, and Kobdo. The Mongolian Government is to receive 15 per cent, of the net annual profits, and will possess the right to purchase the bank upon the expiry of 50 years from the date of the commencement of operations.

In September, 1914, an agreement between Russia and the Urga Govern- ment was signed at Kiakhta with regard to railways in Mongolia. By the terms of the agreement Russia recognises the right of Mongolia to construct its own territorial railways, the plans for which are to be determined jointly by Russia and Mongolia. Russia is to lend its co-operation in finding capital for the railways. Mongolia engages to consult the Russian Government before granting any concession for domestic railways, so that the projected railways may not be " prejudicial to Russian economic and strategic interests. " On the same date a concession was granted by Mongolia to the Russian Administration of Posts and Telegraphs for the construction of a telegraph line from the boundary of Mondi in the Irkutsk district to the Mongolian town of Uliasutai.

With the overthrow of the Romanoffs and the spread of Bolshevism the autonomy of Outer Mongolia availed little to protect the territory from the incursions of the Red forces. In November, 1919, the Urga Government petitioned Peking for the cancellation of its independence, and on 22nd of that month the Chinese Government formally declared null and void the Russo-Chinese and Russo- Mongolian agreements, as ' it was impossible to continue arrangements which had obviously lapsed owing to the dissolution of the Russian Empire, and which were a constant invitation to unrest.' But on February 25, 1921, the Hutuktu was crowned King of Mongolia, and the independence of the country proclaimed.

From March, 1915, Mongolia has a legal currency of its own. The Russian Government has granted to the Siberian Trading Bank the right to issue in Mongolia money coined in the Russian mint. On one side of the coins the value is impressed in the Russian language and a corresponding impression in Mongolian is on the reverse side. For exchange purposes the money will be equal to the Russian rouble (par value, 2s. 1 £<*.).

Buddhist Lamaism is the prevalent form of religion, the Lamas having their residence at Urga and other centres.