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Studies on East Asia, Volume 21 The Last Mongol Prince: The Life and Times of Demchugdongrob, 1902-1966 by Sechin Jagchid

The Center for East Asian Studies publishes scholarly works on topics relating to , , Korea, and

Editor: Edward H. Kaplan volume editors, Henry G. Schwarz and Wayne Richter The Last Mongol Prince: The Life and Times of Demchugdongrob, 1902-1966

Sechin Jagchid

Center for East Asian Studies Western Washington University Copyright 1999 by Center for East Asian Studies Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington 98225-9056

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, includ ­ ing photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Jagchid, Sechin, 1914- The Last Mongol prince: the life and times of Demchugdongrob, 1902- 1966 / Sechin Jagchid. p. cm. — (Studies on East Asia; 21) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-914584-21-9 1. Demchugdongrob, 1902-1966. 2. (China)—Politics and government —20th century. 3. Princes —China—Inner Mongolia— Biography. I. Title: Life and times of Demchugdongrob, 1902-1966. II. Title. III. Series.

DS793.M7 J218 1999 951'.7705’092-dc21 RECP iv/fo [B] 99-051349 0 1 2000

acquisitions

Manufactured in the United States of America TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface ...... xv Illustrations ...... xviii MAP OF MONGOLIA...... xxviii I: HISTORICAL PROLOGUE...... 1 The Land and the People ...... 1 Demchugdongrob ’s Father and His Times ...... 4 II: DEMCHUGDONGROB’S EARLY YEARS, 1912-1919...... 8 His Birth...... 8 His Youth...... 10 His Succession and Contemporary Events ...... 13 III: DEMCHUGDONGROB’S EARLY CAREER, 1919-1928...... 18 The Ruling Prince of His Own Banner ...... 18 Deputy Head of the Shilingol League ...... 23 His First Political Experience in ...... 25 The Eve of the ’s Northern Campaign...... 29 IV: THE KUOMfNTANG’S SECOND NORTHERN CAMPAIGN AND AFTER, 1928-1931...... 34 The Northern Campaign and the Mongol Response ...... 34 The Rise of Wu Heling and the Mongol Delegation ...... 36 External and Internal Factions ...... 39 The Panchen Lama’s First Visit to Inner Mongolia...... 42 The Mongolian Convention and the Law Concerning Mongolia...... 43 V: THE EARLY PERIOD OF THE JAPANESE INVASION, 1931-1933 ...... 46 The Manchurian Incident and the Mongolian Response ...... 46 The Changing Situation in and ...... 48 Prince De ’s First Visit with Chiang Kai-shek and His Conflict with Wu Heling ...... 50 The Japanese Occupation of Rehe and the Emergence of Li Shouxin...... 54 The Beginning of Japanese Encroachment into Western Inner Mongolian Territory...... 57 VI: THE INNER MONGOLIAN AUTONOMY MOVEMENT, JUNE 1933-MARCH 1934...... 60 Direct Causes ...... 60 The Condition of the Leagues and Banners ...... 62 Preparatory Work...... 66 The Immediate Response ...... 69 The Preliminary Committee and the Declaration ...... 71 The Beile-yin sume Conference for Autonomy...... 74 The Arrival of Huang £ind Zhao...... 78 A Breakthrough in the Talks ...... 85 The Machinations of Huang Shaohong and ...... 88 The Final Resolution ...... 92 VII: THE PERIOD OF THE MONGOLIAN POLITICAL COUNCIL, APRIL 1934-JANUARY 1936...... 100 Founding of the Council ...... 100 Togtakhu’s Visits with Chiang Kai-shek ...... 103 The First Japanese Sounding Out of Western Inner Mongolia. 105 Chinese Terrorism Against the ...... 106 Prince De ’s Second Visit with Chiang Kai-shek ...... 106 Contacts with the Clique ...... 107 Contacts with the Kokonor Mongols ...... 109 Conflict Within the Peace Preservation Corps ...... 110 Problems Caused by Prince So’s Arrival in Beiping ...... 110 The Prince Shi Incident...... 112 Khashaat and the Conflict Over Taxation...... 113 Chahar’s Disregard for Mongolian Territorial Integrity...... 115 The He-Umeizu Agreement ...... 116 Japanese Advances and Mongol Criticisms of the Mongolian Political Council ...... 117 The Zhangbei Incident ...... 118 Secret Plans for Mongolia’s Future ...... 118 Wu Heling ’s Meeting with Chiang Kai-shek ...... 119 The Emergence of the Mongolian Political Council ... 120 Japanese Penetration and Disintegration of the Mongolian Political Council ...... 122 VIII: JAPANESE INTERVENTION AND THE MONGOLIAN ARMY GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, JANUARY-MAY 1936...... 125 The Early Activities of Japanese Agents and the General Headquarters ...... 125 Itagaki’s Arrival in Ujumuchin ...... 127 Expansion of Japanese Activities ...... 129 Prince De ’s Secret Visit to ...... 130 Wu Heling and Bai Yunti Return to Mongolia...... 131 Japan’s Occupation of Kalgan’s Outskirts and the Formation of the Chahar League ...... 132 Wu Heling ’s Meeting with Itagaki in Beiping ...... 133 Wu Heling ’s Narrow Escape from Assassination ...... 134 The Assassination of Nimaodzar...... 136 The General Headquarters of the Mongolian Army...... 138 The First Mongolian Congress ...... 141 Extent of Participation in the First Mongolian Congress ...... 145 The Japanese Execution of Lingsheng ...... 147 IX: THE MONGOLIAN MILITARY GOVERNMENT, MAY 1936-OCTOBER 1937...... 149 Establishment of the Mongolian Military Government ...... 149 Organization of the Mongolian Army...... 153 Japan’s Westward Advance ...... 154 Diplomatic Activities of the Mongolian Military Government ...... 155 The Death of Prince So and Prince De ’s Subsequent Ties with Nanjing...... 157 Japan’s Further Westward Movement and Conflict with Suiyuan...... 158 The Battle of Bat-Khaalag...... 161 The Truce and Rehabilitation of the Mongolian Army...... 164 Reorganization of the Army and New Maneuvers ...... 166 The End of the Mongolian Military Government ...... 167 X: THE MONGOLIAN ALLIED LEAGUE AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 1937-AUGUST 1939...... 169 The Emergence of Japanese Puppet Regimes in Southern Chahar and Northern ...... 169 The Conflict Between the Mongol Leadership and the Japanese Militarists Over Mongolian Nationhood...... 171 Preparations for the Mongolian Congress and the Response of the Beiping Mongols ...... 172 The Second Mongolian Congress ...... 174 Foimding of the Mongolian Allied League Autonomous Government ...... 184 Kanai Shoji and the Japanese Advisors ...... 187 Kanai’s Plot to Create the Joint Committee of Mongolian Territories ...... 188 Headquarters of the Japanese Army in Mongolia...... 190 The Death of Prince Yondonwangchug and Prince De ’s Appointment to the Chairmanship ...... 192 Wu Heling ’s Japanese Exile...... 193 Prince De ’s Election to the Chairmanship and the Reorganization of the Mongolian Allied League Autonomous Government ...... 194 Problems with the Japanese Advisors ...... 196 Japanese Military Arrangements in Mongolia and Kanai Shoji’s Political Maneuvers ...... 199 Wu Heling ’s Activities in Tokyo...... 202 Prince De ’s Visit to Japan...... 204 Mongol Conflict with Kanai Continues ...... 208 The End of the Mongolian Allied League Autonomous Government ...... 213 XI: THE MONGOLIAN ALLIED AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 1939-AUGUST 1941...... 216 Formation of the New Mongolian Political Regime ...... 216 Prince Sungjingwangchug and Other High Officials ...... 221 Secret Contact between Prince De and Chiang Kai-shek ...... 224 The Secret Contact Ends in Failure ...... 225 The Regime and the Conference...... 228 The Clash at Wuyuan...... 229 Wang Jingwei’s Visit to Kalgan...... 231 Political Unrest in Ujumuchin ...... 234 The Mongolian Conference ...... 236 Prince De ’s Redirection of Effort...... 237 Prince Sung’s Activities in Japan...... 238 The Founding of the Mongolian Cooperatives (Khorshiya)...... 239 The Resignation of Prince Sung and the Response ...... 241 Prince De ’s Determination to Modernize ...... 244 The Japanese Change Their Attitude ...... 245 Prince De ’s Second Visit to Japan...... 245 Tojo’s Arrival in Kalgan...... 249 Reorganization of the Government and its Personnel ...... 249 Quarrels Among the Japanese...... 252 The Mongolian Rehabilitation Committee ...... 253 Prince Sung’s Activities ...... 256 XII: THE MONGOLIAN AUTONOMOUS STATE, AUGUST 1941-AUGUST 1945...... 259 The Formation of the Mongolian Autonomous State ...... 259 The Removal of Kanai Shoji...... 260 Outbreak of the “Great East Asian War”...... 262 Arrival of Ohashi, the New Supreme Advisor...... 263 Ohashi ’s Conflict with the Japanese Military...... 263 The Mongolian Delegation in Tokyo and the Bank in Kalgan...... 266 Christian Missionaries During the ...... 267 Prince De ’s Visit to Manchukuo ...... 268 The Mongolian Rehabilitation Committee and Japanese Horse Purchasing ...... 269 Japanese Schemes Concerning the Mongolian Religion ...... 270 The Fall of Ohashi Chuichi ...... 272 Abolition of the Supreme Advisorship ...... 275 The Plans of the Mongolian Rehabilitation Committee ...... 276 The Fifth Mongolian Congress ...... 277 Prince Sung’s Visit to Manchukuo ...... 280 Upheaval in the Government and Prince De ’s Recovery of Power ...... 283 The Awakening zind Some Real Problems ...... 286 Confrontations between Mongol Leaders and Japanese Advisors ...... 291 The New Banner Institution ...... 291 Problems of the Mongolian Army...... 293 The Mongolian Army Officer Academy ...... 294 Formation of the Lama-yin Tamaga...... 296 Japan, the “Allied Nation”...... 298 The Yekejuu Incident of March 26, 1943...... 299 Mongol Youth Activities in Kalgan...... 302 The Problem of the Queue ...... 304 Political Crisis and Disharmony Among Mongol Leaders ...... 305 Personnel Rearrangements After the Crisis ...... 307 Reorganization of the Mongolian Military Forces ...... 308 The Yalta Agreement and its Impact...... 310 Prince De ’s Desires for the Future of Mongolia...... 311 The Failure to Achieve Common Measures ...... 312 The End of the War...... 314 Conflicting Paths for the Future of Post-War Mongolia...... 315 Disintegration of the Mongol Army...... 315 The Last Hours of the Mongolian Government in Kalgan...... 317 XIII: INNER MONGOLIA AFTER THE JAPANESE DEFEAT, AUGUST 1945-JANUARY 1946...... 319 Prince De Moves from Kalgan to Beiping and Chungking...... 319 Mongols in Chungking...... 322 Prince De ’s Visit with Chiang Kai-shek ...... 323 My Personal Recollections of the Soviet Occupation of Shilingol...... 328 Mongolian Activities Immediately after Soviet Occupation .....332 The People ’s Delegate Conference of the Inner Mongolian Leagues and Barmers ...... 334 Arrival of the Outer Mongolian Vice Premier and Creation of the Inner Mongolian Government ...... 337 The Changing Situation in Eastern Irmer Mongolia...... 339 Activities of the Mongols in Beiping ...... 342 XIV: THE POSTWAR MONGOL STRUGGLE FOR AUTONOMY AND THE CHINESE RESPONSE...... 346 Chinese Recognition of Outer Mongolian Independence and the Arrival of the Eastern Inner Mongolian Delegation at Beiping ...... 346 The KMT Decision on the Mongolian Problem ...... 347 Struggles in Eastern and Western Inner Mongolia...... 349 Chinese and International Events that Affected Inner Mongolia...... 350 Fu Zuoyi’s Occupation of Kalgan...... 351 Activities of the Mongol Local Elite ...... 353 The Hope of the Inner Mongolian People ...... 354 Activities of the Mongolian Delegates in Nanjing...... 359 Struggles at the Chinese Constitutional National Assembly .....360 The Constitutional Convention of the National Assembly ’s Solution to the Mongolian Problem ...... 366 Formation of the Mongolian Youth Alliance ...... 368 Turmoil in Inner Mongolia...... 370 Contact with International Organizations ...... 372 Contacts with the Mongolian-Tibetan Affairs Commission and Prince De ’s Response ...... 376 Elections and the Mongol Response ...... 378 The Mongolian Delegates and the First Chinese National Assembly ...... 381 The Mongolian Proposal for the Assembly ...... 384 The Mongolian Youth Alliance and its Contacts with the U.S. Authorities ...... 387 Prince De ’s Withdrawal from Beiping ...... 389 XV: THE ALASHAN MONGOLIAN AUTONOMY MOVEMENT, JANUARY-DECEMBER 1949...... 392 Prince De ’s Departure to Alashan and Contacts with the Northwest Chinese Authorities ...... 392 Damzana and the Situation in Alashan ...... 393 The Complicated Situation in Dingyuanying and Confrontations among the Mongols ...... 394 Supporters of the Movement and Formation of the Preliminary Committee for Inner Mongolian Autonomy...... 396 Prince De ’s Trip to ...... 398 Prince De ’s Contact with the Americans in Guangzhou...... 403 Prince De ’s other Contacts in Guangzhou...... 404 The Situation in Alashan Before Prince De ’s Return ...... 404 Prince De ’s Return to Alashan ...... 406 The Mongolian Conference in Alashan ...... 408 Military Organization...... 417 Prince De ’s Contacts with the Mongolian People ’s ... 418 My Assignment and Departure from Alashan ...... 419 The Last Negotiation with the KMT Government ...... 420 The Split among the Mongols in Alashan ...... 420 Prince De ’s Activities after His Exile from Alashan ...... 422 Prince De ’s Exile to the Mongolian People ’s Republic ...... 424 XVI: IN ULAANBAATAR, DECEMBER 1949- SEPTEMBER 1950...... 427 Prince De ’s Response to the Mongolian People ’s Republic ...... 427 Preparing to Contact the MPR’s Agents ...... 428 Contact with MPR Agents at the Bayan Shangdu Temple ...... 430 At the Tukum Temple ...... 432 A Guest in Ulaanbaatar...... 434 Under House Arrest ...... 435 Prisoner in Ulaanbaatar...... 437 Interrogation ...... 438 Extradition to Beijing ...... 441 XVII: THE LAST CHAPTER, SEPTEMBER 1950- APRIL 1966...... 444 IDENTIFICATION OF MAJOR REFERENCES...... 448 GLOSSARY...... 451 INDEX...... 460 ABOUT THE AUTHOR...... 480