The Far East: II — Re-Emergence

Abstract

The winter of 1921–1922 was a period of great activity in Soviet policy in the Far East, and marked the re-emergence of Soviet power on the Pacific. With the defeat of Ungern-Sternberg the last organized “white” force in Siberia had been destroyed; the Japanese occupation was being withdrawn step by step under American pressure; the Soviet Government had successfully reasserted the predominance of Russian interests and influence in Outer Mongolia. On the other hand no diplomatic relations had yet been established with China or Japan, and attempts to plant communist movements in these countries had all but failed. During this crucial winter the Washington conference further weakened and isolated Japan among the great Powers and hastened the final stages of the withdrawal; the Soviet position in Outer Mongolia was further consolidated to the detriment of Soviet relations with the Peking government, but without objection from any of the great Powers; and a conference of “toilers of the east” in Moscow was the signal for an intensive campaign to establish communist influence, and a foothold for organized communist parties, in the Far Eastern countries. In the summer of 1922, when the Genoa conference and the treaty of Rapallo were already conspicuous landmarks in the progress of Soviet diplomacy in Europe, Russia was once again a power to be reckoned with in the Far East.