1939: Sinkiang

Physiography and History.

The province of Sinkiang (literally New Dominion) is that key region in the land frontiers of the Chinese Republic which lies in the extreme northwest of China and is usually known abroad as Chinese or Eastern Turkestan. Its exact boundaries are undetermined, but Tibet lies to the south; Siberian Russia to the north; India, Afghanistan and Turkestan adjoin it on the southwest and west; and Outer Mongolia and the Chinese provinces of Kansu and Ch'inghai (Kokonor) on the east. The area is variously estimated to be from 400,000 to 600,000 square miles. The 4,000,000 population contains Mongols, Kasaks, Manchus, Tajiks and Turkis. Only one-tenth of the inhabitants are of Chinese blood.

The T'ien Shan, or Heavenly Mountains, extend through the north central part. Between the T'ien Shan and the Altai mountains, on the north, lies the Jungarian Desert. South of the T'ien Shan, the Takla Makan desert extends to the Kuen Lun range of mountains. These deserts provide internal drainage areas into which many rivers, bearing waters from the mountain areas, disappear. Extensive forests abound on the T'ien Shan, and below them lies a rich pasture land. Favorable climatic and geographical conditions have made the north foot of the T'ien Shan and the south foot of the Altai governing corridors of nomadic migration which have controlled the formation of empires between the Great Wall of China and Russian Central Asia. Southern Sinkiang is a country of oases, formed from waters distributed through irrigation canals. Lack of rain and pasture has prevented nomadic life between the oases.

The normal routes of trade extend to the north into Siberian Russia, and to the west where contact is made with the Turkestan-Siberian railroad at Alma Ata (opened in 1930). The single route to the south extends from Yarkand across the Kuen Lun mountains to Leh in Ladok, and thence across the Himalayas to Kashmir. The main route into China extends from Urumchi (Tihua) to Hami.

The capital of Sinkiang is Urumchi, which has a population of between 70,000 and 100,000. In the Ili Valley are found forests, mineral deposits, pasture for livestock and rich agricultural land. The two chief cities of the Valley are Suiting, an agricultural center, and Kuldjar, the center of the largest anti-Soviet Russian community in Sinkiang.

Gold, bituminous coal, salt, iron, sulphur and mineral oil are present in the province though not extensively developed; also, considerable jade.

History has linked Sinkiang with China since the Han dynasty (bc 206-sd 220). During the Ming dynasty (ad 1368-1644) it was independent, but it was again brought under Chinese control by the Manchus during the Chiing dynasty (1644-1911). In the 1870's a Moslem uprising was put down by General Tso Tsung-t'ang, who captured Hami, which controls the entrance to both northern and southern Sinkiang.

Russian Influence, Internal Improvements.

Under the Chinese Republic Sinkiang became a dominion, administered by a governor appointed by the Chinese Government. The Chinese still exercise political control, though Russian economic influence predominates. The Chinese have divided the province into tao, or circuits, which are again divided into hsien, or counties.

In 1931 Chinese refusal to permit a successor to the post of Prince of Komal and the promulgation of new tax regulations precipitated the Hami uprising. Ma Chung-ying, a Moslem leader, assumed leadership of the rebellion but was later driven out with the aid of White Russians from the Ili Valley. The rebellion, however, served to convince the Chinese Government of the necessity of a more enlightened administration.

A trade agreement was negotiated between the Sinkiang provincial government and Soviet Russia in 1931. Although the Soviet Union has not interfered with local administration, any Sinkiang régime clearly exists only on Russian sufferance. Russia both has paramount economic interests there, and is desirous of preventing any flanking movement by the Japanese from Manchuria in that direction.

The present governor, General Shen Shih-tsai, has done much to improve conditions. Civil warfare has ceased. Racial equality has been fostered by opening both civil and military service to all racial groups, and the government-supported schools to everyone. A budget has been introduced into all government departments. The monetary system has been revised. Many of the harsh miscellaneous taxes have been removed.

Revenue for the government is provided by customs duties, a land tax, wine tax and a stamp tax (on official papers). Customs officials are appointed by the provincial government. Customs revenues for 1936 amounted to Ch $3,340,000; land revenues aggregated Ch $2,430,000; and a cattle tax brought in Ch $24,880. Trade with the U.S.S.R. has shown a steady increase. In 1935 it was 20,113 tons; in 1937 it was placed at 25,733 tons. Exports to the U.S.S.R. include live animals, hides, wool, furs, raw silk, cotton, hair and cattle intestines. Imports from Russia, which totaled 98,990 tons in 1937, include cotton goods, tea, sugar, clothing, transport vehicles, petroleum, shoes and metal goods.

There is a Sinkiang Provincial Bank, with fifteen branches. The capital is made up of treasury notes of the provincial finance department. In 1938 the Central Bank of China established an office at Urumchi to assist in the matter of exchange between Sinkiang and China. It is estimated that about $1,000,000 of Chinese currency is now in circulation within the province. Each dollar is valued there at the rate of 4,000 Sinkiang taels to the dollar.

The provincial government is attempting to develop an agricultural economy. In 1938 cash loans to needy farmers were extended in the sum of $1,000,000. Efforts are being made to revive the silk industry. Agricultural improvement centers, veterinary hospitals and credit organizations have been established to aid the peasants. In all of these recent developments the local government has received Soviet cooperation and technical assistance.

Effect of Sino-Japanese War.

The Sino-Japanese war has tended to speed up the development of transport facilities. The Lunghai railroad, which now crosses China from east to west to Paoki (Shensi), may be extended into Kansu. Its further extension into Sinkiang has been discussed, but will probably be delayed because of the vast unproductive areas which lie between.

The highway which extends from Hami to Sian constitutes one of China's life lines during the current conflict with Japan. Over it proceed the Russian trucks which carry Russian supplies into China and bring back tung oil, hides and other products in return. Chinese hostels have been established at convenient stages along the road. They are staffed with Russian-speaking Chinese, and they provide Russian-style food for the truck drivers.

Large air bases are located at Hami, Urumchi, and Ili; and commercial air service is maintained between Urumchi, Chengtu (Szechuan) and Chungking (Szechuan).

Reports that Russia has moved large bodies of troops into Sinkiang are unverified. Such reports probably grow out of the presence in the province of uniformed Russians who are connected with the air and transport services. See also MONGOLIA.