Mongol Local Autonomy Political Affairs Committee
Encyclopedia
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
. The Nanjing
government authorised its establishment in March 1934.
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 a such an autonomous political committee and open up a direct line of communication with Nanjing. 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.
As well as a number of ethnic Mongol Kuomintang members:
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. The Japanese military watched the conflict closely, and even had its air force make several illegal overflights of Suiyuan in late September.
assassinated, sparking fear among the other Committee members, in particular his close associate Jodbajab
, which led him to collaborate with the Japanese. 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. 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. 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.
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. The Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
government authorised its establishment in March 1934.
Background
The Committee grew out of a visit by Huang ShaoxiongHuang Shaoxiong
Huang Shaoxiong or Huang Shaohong was a warlord in Guangxi province, and governed Guangxi as part of the New Guangxi Clique, though the later part of the Warlord era and a leader in the later years of the Republic of China.-Biography:...
as an envoy to a Mongolian autonomy conference held at Bat-khaalag (Bailingmiao/Pailingmiao) in the aftermath of the Japanese annexation
Defense of the Great Wall
The Defense of the Great Wall was a campaign between the armies of Republic of China and Empire of Japan, which took place before the Second Sino-Japanese War officially commenced in 1937...
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 a such an autonomous political committee and open up a direct line of communication with Nanjing. Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
, 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
Demchugdongrub
Prince Demchugdongrub was the leader of a Mongol independence movement in Inner Mongolia. He was the chairman of Mengjiang, a Japanese puppet state in World War II....
served as secretary-general, while Yondonwangchug held the chairmanship.
Membership
Members of the committee included various league and banner nobility:- YondonwangchugYondonwangchugYondonwangchug was an Inner Mongolian nobleman of Ulanqab League and politician under the Qing Dynasty, Republic of China and Mengjiang governments.-Names:...
(head of Ulanqab League), chairman of the Committee - Sodnam Labtan (索特那木拉布坦, head of Xilin Gol LeagueXilin Gol LeagueXilin Gol is one of 12 prefecture level divisions of Inner Mongolia. The capital is Xilinhot, the area is 202,580 km². The league's economy is based on mining and agriculture....
), vice chairman of the Committee - Shagdurjab (沙克都尔扎布, head of Yeke-juu League), vice-chairman of the Committee
- DemchugdongrubDemchugdongrubPrince Demchugdongrub was the leader of a Mongol independence movement in Inner Mongolia. He was the chairman of Mengjiang, a Japanese puppet state in World War II....
(deputy head of Xilin Gol LeagueXilin Gol LeagueXilin Gol is one of 12 prefecture level divisions of Inner Mongolia. The capital is Xilinhot, the area is 202,580 km². The league's economy is based on mining and agriculture....
), general secretary of the Committee - AltanochirAltanochir (1882-1949)Altanochir was an Inner Mongolian prince, politician, and general under the Republic of China and Mengjiang governments. He served as deputy head of Yeke-juu League...
(deputy head of Yeke-juu League) - Babadorj (巴宝多尔济, jasaghJasaghA jasagh was the head of a Mongol banner or khoshun during the Qing Dynasty and Boghda Khaanate of Mongolia. The term is rendered "zhasake" in contemporary Chinese documents. The position was held by hereditary succession by certain Mongol princes, most of whom were descendants of Genghis Khan...
of Urat Middle BannerUrat Middle BannerUrat Middle Banner is a banner of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. It is located in the west of the region, and administratively is part of Bayan Nur City. It has a total area of and in 2004 had a population of 140,000. Its seat is located in the town of Haliut ....
) - JodbajabJodbajabJodbajab was a military officer and government official in the Inner Mongolia area under the late Qing Dynasty, Republic of China, and Mengjiang governments...
(nobleman of Chahar) - Gongchok Lashe (贡楚克拉什, nobleman of Chahar)
- DarijayaDarijayaDarijaya was an Inner Mongolian nobleman of Alxa League and a politician under the Republic of China and People's Republic of China governments.-Names:...
(jasaghJasaghA jasagh was the head of a Mongol banner or khoshun during the Qing Dynasty and Boghda Khaanate of Mongolia. The term is rendered "zhasake" in contemporary Chinese documents. The position was held by hereditary succession by certain Mongol princes, most of whom were descendants of Genghis Khan...
of Alxa Banner, Alxa LeagueAlxa LeagueAlxa League is one of 12 prefecture level divisions and three extant leagues of Inner Mongolia. The league borders Mongolia to the north, Bayan Nur to the northeast, Wuhai and Ordos to the east, Ningxia to the southeast, and Gansu to the south and west. The capital is Bayan Hot in the aimag's...
) - Toktaghu (托克托胡, nobleman of East Ujimqin BannerEast Ujimqin Banner-References:*...
, Xilin Gol LeagueXilin Gol LeagueXilin Gol is one of 12 prefecture level divisions of Inner Mongolia. The capital is Xilinhot, the area is 202,580 km². The league's economy is based on mining and agriculture....
) - Pandegunchab (潘迪恭扎布, jasaghJasaghA jasagh was the head of a Mongol banner or khoshun during the Qing Dynasty and Boghda Khaanate of Mongolia. The term is rendered "zhasake" in contemporary Chinese documents. The position was held by hereditary succession by certain Mongol princes, most of whom were descendants of Genghis Khan...
of Dörbed, Ulanqab League) - Namjilsereng (那木吉勒色楞, deputy head of Jerim League)
As well as a number of ethnic Mongol Kuomintang members:
- Ünenbayan (Jerim League representative in Beijing, Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission member)
- Enkhbat (恩克巴图; Kuomintang Central Oversight Committee member)
- SerengdongrubSerengdongrubSerengdongrub was an Inner Mongolian politician in the Republic of China. An ethnic Mongol, he was a native of Harqin Middle Banner .-Names:...
(Kuomintang Central Executive Committee member, Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Committee member) - KesinggeKesingge (politician)Kesingge was an Inner Mongolian politician of the Republic of China.-Names:His name was transcribed as . He also used the Chinese name Li Chih-nan .-Career:...
(KMT Central Executive Committee reserve member, Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission member) - Nima-odsorNima-odsorNima-odsor was an Inner Mongolian politician of the Republic of China, shot to death by assassins on an intercity bus ride.-Names:...
(Kuomintang Central Committee member)
Operation
The committee was officially inaugurated in a ceremony at Bailingmiao in April 1934. By late June, offices had been installed at the monastery and blessed by its priests. Their clashes with other regional authorities began immediately; both the Committee and the government of Suiyuan Province under Fu ZuoyiFu Zuoyi
Fu Zuoyi was a Chinese military leader. He began his military career in the service of Yan Xishan, and he was widely praised for his defense of Suiyuan from the Japanese. During the final stages of the Chinese Civil War, Fu surrendered the large and strategic garrison around Beiping to Communist...
attempted to levy tariffs on goods imported from Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
. Regional nobility such as Shirabdorji of the Urad
Urad Mongols
Urad is a Mongol tribe in Inner Mongolia....
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. The Japanese military watched the conflict closely, and even had its air force make several illegal overflights of Suiyuan in late September.
Collapse
In early 1936, the Japanese had Nima-odsorNima-odsor
Nima-odsor was an Inner Mongolian politician of the Republic of China, shot to death by assassins on an intercity bus ride.-Names:...
assassinated, sparking fear among the other Committee members, in particular his close associate Jodbajab
Jodbajab
Jodbajab was a military officer and government official in the Inner Mongolia area under the late Qing Dynasty, Republic of China, and Mengjiang governments...
, which led him to collaborate with the Japanese. 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
Kalgan
Kalgan may refer to:* Kalgan, Western Australia, a town*Kalgan River, in Western Australia*An earlier name for Zhangjiakou, in Hebei Province, China*A name used by World Of Warcraft developer Tom Chilton...
, headed by Puyintala. 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. That council, at Guisui (Hohhot
Hohhot
Hohhot , is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre....
), was under the control of Fu Zuoyi
Fu Zuoyi
Fu Zuoyi was a Chinese military leader. He began his military career in the service of Yan Xishan, and he was widely praised for his defense of Suiyuan from the Japanese. During the final stages of the Chinese Civil War, Fu surrendered the large and strategic garrison around Beiping to Communist...
, and was also advised by Yan Xishan
Yan Xishan
Yan Xishan, was a Chinese warlord who served in the government of the Republic of China. Yan effectively controlled the province of Shanxi from the 1911 Xinhai Revolution to the 1949 Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War...
. Demchugdongrub and Yondonwangchug withdrew to Dehua
Huade County
Huade County is a county of central Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China, bordering Hebei province to the southeast, Xilin Gol League to the northeast, and Shangdu County to the west. It is under the administration of Ulaan Chab city.-References:*...
and established the Mongol Military Government, leaving the Committee defunct.