For most of the last century, the Soviet Union exercised effective control and influence over Outer Mongolia. However, it is puzzling that the Soviet leadership has consistently rejected this request, despite the fact that the leaders of Outer Mongolia have repeatedly offered to join the Soviet Union as the 16th union republic. What is the reason behind this? Is the desire of Stalin and others to expand their territory weakened? Or is it due to some deeper strategic consideration? Let us find out.
The tortuous course of Outer Mongolia's independence
During the reign of the Qing Dynasty, Mongolia was part of China's territory. However, after the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, the idea of independence began to be brewed by the old upper ruling circles in Mongolia. There are several reasons for this:
First, the Mongol aristocracy was wary of the nascent regime of the Republic of China. They feared that under the rule of the Republican government, their privileged position would cease to exist. Therefore, they hoped to be able to break free from the control of the central power and establish their own regime in the Mongolian region.
Second, Russia has always harbored ambitions to incorporate Mongolia into its territory. As early as the 19th century, Russia began to engage in infiltration activities in Mongolia in an attempt to win over the Mongolian elite. The turbulent period after the Xinhai Revolution gave Russia an opportunity. They secretly supported and abetted the Mongol independence forces, and promised to provide them financially and militarily after independence.
Thirdly, the Beiyang government and later the Nationalist government, due to the warlord chaos and internal and external troubles, had no time to take care of the Mongolian region. Although they insist in words that Mongolia is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, they are powerless in practice.
Driven by all these factors, Mongolia declared its independence at the end of 1911 and established the "Outer Mongolian" regime. But due to the lack of international recognition and strong supporters, the independent regime has been on the drift. It was not until 1924, with the vigorous support of Soviet Russia, that Outer Mongolia finally established its independent status.
From then on, Outer Mongolia began a long-term loyalty to the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union not only provided it with substantial economic assistance, but also directly sent advisers to intervene in its internal affairs and exercise strict control over it. The leaders of Outer Mongolia also behaved very obediently in this regard. They were deferential to the leaders of the Soviet Union and obedient to all the decisions of the Soviet Union.
Soviet control and influence over Outer Mongolia
Although nominally independent, Outer Mongolia was in fact subject to Soviet control. This control is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
The first is political appointments. The top leaders of the Outer Mongolian regime were all pro-Soviet elements without exception. Not only did they receive revolutionary training in the USSR, but they were personally appointed by the USSR. Any disobedient leader, the Soviet Union will mercilessly remove.
In 1936, Gelgelangjin, then the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Outer Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, was retaliated against by the Soviet Union because he disagreed with the Soviet Union on some issues. At the instigation of the Soviet Union, he was charged with "counter-revolutionary" and "anti-Soviet" crimes, and was eventually executed.
Grad Grandzin was succeeded by Jobalsan, a direct Soviet assignee, who was completely subordinate to the Soviet Union during his tenure and entrusted the fate of Outer Mongolia to Stalin. After Chobalsan's death, the Soviet Union sent its own confidant Chudbatar to take over, imposing tighter control over Outer Mongolia.
Second, the Soviet Union stationed a large number of troops in Outer Mongolia and exercised military control over it. In 1936, the Soviet Union signed a "Treaty of Mutual Assistance" with Outer Mongolia, through which construction and military facilities were carried out on a large scale in Outer Mongolia. By 1945, the number of Soviet troops stationed in Outer Mongolia was as high as 100,000.
This Soviet army was not only to prevent the Japanese invasion, but more importantly, to suppress the resistance forces within Outer Mongolia. In 1932, there was a "cotton peasant uprising" that was caused by the forced collectivization of Outer Mongolia by the Soviet Union, which caused discontent among the nomads. In the end, the uprising was brutally suppressed by the Soviet army, and thousands of insurgents were killed.
Third, the Soviet Union also had absolute dominance over the economy of Outer Mongolia. Outer Mongolia's industry, agriculture, trade, and many other fields were controlled by Soviet experts and advisers. The Soviet Union not only sent large quantities of supplies to Outer Mongolia, but also incorporated them into its own economic system, making it highly dependent on the Soviet Union.
In addition, the Soviet Union also vigorously promoted ideological propaganda in Outer Mongolia to inculcate Marxism-Leninism and the theory of proletarian revolution. The cultural and educational undertakings of Outer Mongolia were also built in full accordance with the Soviet model. It can be said that Outer Mongolia has completely become a vassal of the Soviet Union ideologically.
In general, despite the name of Outer Mongolia as an independent state, it was under the strict control of the Soviet Union in all fields such as politics, military, economy, and culture. It was like a "protectorate" or "colony" of the Soviet Union, and there was no real sovereign independence at all.
The "joining" appeal of the leaders of Outer Mongolia
Despite the fact that Outer Mongolia had become a de facto "protectorate" of the Soviet Union, it remained nominally an independent state. This situation often made the Outer Mongolian leadership feel insecure, and they longed for stronger protection from the Soviet Union, and even hoped to join the Soviet Union completely as its 16th republic.
The first to make a request for "membership" was the Outer Mongolian People's Party, which came to power in 1924. In a letter to Lenin, the chairman of the party, Sukhbaatar wrote: "We aspire to join the Russian Soviet Federation and become part of it. But the Soviet leadership at that time ignored this request.
In 1940, Chobalsan, then the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Outer Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, once again appealed to Stalin for "joining". In one of his letters, he said: "We aspire to join the great Soviet family and live a safe life under its umbrella." ＂
By 1944, the leader of Outer Mongolia, Chudbatyr, had repeatedly made the same request to Stalin, hoping to "join the great Soviet Union forever." He even flew to Moscow himself to present his ideas to Stalin's face.
In the decades that followed, whenever there was a personnel change in the leadership of Outer Mongolia, the new leaders, without exception, would appeal to the Soviet Union for "membership". The reason why they are so persistent is due to the following considerations:
First of all, joining the Soviet Union would provide stronger security guarantees. As an independent country, Outer Mongolia often feared invasion by other countries. And once it became part of the Soviet Union, it was able to stay under the umbrella of this "socialist camp" from external threats.
Secondly, joining the USSR would allow for more economic support. The economy of Outer Mongolia has always been backward and heavily dependent on blood transfusions from the Soviet Union. If it becomes a union republic, it will be able to share more financial and material resources from the Soviet Union.
Again, joining the USSR was able to obtain a higher political status. As an independent country, Outer Mongolia has always been in an awkward position in the international community. And once it became part of the Soviet Union, it was able to use the influence of the Soviet Union to make a bigger voice on the world stage.
Finally, joining the USSR was also motivated by ideological necessity. The leaders of Outer Mongolia were all devotions to Marxism-Leninism and longed to be more closely associated with the "cradle of the proletarian revolution".
In short, in the long-term "master-slave" relationship, the leaders of Outer Mongolia developed a psychology of dependence and admiration for the Soviet Union. They have repeatedly put forward the request of "joining", hoping to be completely attached to this "big family" and get rid of the situation of isolation and helplessness.
Analysis of the reasons for Stalin's refusal to "join".
Although the leaders of Outer Mongolia repeatedly appealed for "joining", the Soviet leaders always refused to agree. There are deep strategic considerations behind this.
First of all, the Soviet Union feared that once Outer Mongolia became a union republic, it would exacerbate the contradictions with China. Although the Chinese government at that time was powerless to prevent the independence of Outer Mongolia, it never recognized the legal status of Outer Mongolia and always regarded it as a part of China. If the Soviet Union annexed Outer Mongolia, it would undoubtedly be regarded by China as a flagrant violation of its territorial sovereignty and would inevitably lead to a deterioration in relations between the two countries.
And in the international situation at that time, the Soviet Union did not want a head-on conflict with China. On the one hand, China was an important ally of the Soviet Union in Asia, and on the other hand, the Soviet Union also needed China as a buffer between the East and the West. Therefore, Stalin was reluctant to make any decisions that could anger China.
Second, the Soviet Union feared that the annexation of Outer Mongolia would provoke discontent among the other republics. At that time, there were many national separatist tendencies in the Soviet republics, and if the Soviet Union extended its claws to Outer Mongolia, an independent state, it was likely to be regarded as an infringement of the sovereignty of the republics, which would lead to more centrifugal tendencies.
Thirdly, the Soviet Union was also worried that the annexation of Outer Mongolia would have adverse international repercussions for itself. At that time, the national liberation movements of the third world countries were in full swing, and the Soviet Union, as the leader of the socialist camp, would undoubtedly be accused of "neocolonialism" by the capitalist camp if it openly annexed an independent country. This would seriously damage the image and influence of the USSR in the countries of the third world.
Finally, the Soviet Union believed that it had achieved de facto control over Outer Mongolia even if it did not include it in its territory. Outer Mongolia is completely dependent on the Soviet Union in the political, economic, military, and other fields, and has no independent capability. Therefore, the Soviet leaders decided that it would be more beneficial for the Soviet Union to maintain its nominal independence than to take the risk of including Outer Mongolia in its territory.
In short, despite the repeated demands of the leaders of Outer Mongolia for "membership", the Soviet leaders ultimately rejected this request for various considerations. They believed that maintaining the status quo was the best option for the Soviet Union, both to maintain control over Outer Mongolia and to avoid unnecessary trouble.