National Autonomy of Khingan (Xingan) as a public-power institution of control by the Japanese of the Mongolian territories of Manchukuo. Part 2: North and West provinces / governorates, central Xinzhong region

This article continues the study of the process of implementing the national policy of the Japanese on the Mongolian lands in Manchukuo concerning the North and West provinces of Hinggan. The importance and need for a separate study of the state of these territories was determined by the place that these regions occupied in the structure of the new province. As well as by the consequences that occurred after the so-called Incident with Lin Sheng, which significantly changed Japanese national politics in the region, as well as attitude to Japan by the local population and political elites. The western region was created in 1933 after Rehe Province joined Manchukuo. The specifics of the Northern region, which became a governorship in 1934, boiled down to the fact that, firstly, it included two territories with a special status: the Cossack area of Three-Rivers (Trekhrechye) in the valley of the Genhe, Derbul and Khaul rivers, as well as the former Special District of the Three Eastern Provinces, created within the boundaries of the CER Railway Exclusion Strip and in 1932 became the Special Region of Northern Manchuria. Secondly, the Northern region coincided in its borders with the Barga region, which since the middle of the 18th century had substantial autonomous rights and privileges. Having retained autonomy even after the Xinhai Revolution, Barga became part of the Heilongjiang province only in 1920, but the internal governance structure preserved, and Daurian aristocrat Gui Fu became the head of the district. With the formation of Hinggan Province, his son Lin Sheng became the head of the province and subsequently the governor. Possessing considerable authority, Lin Sheng tried to prevent abuse of powers by the Japanese, which caused aggravation of the situation, accusing him of treason and execution. However, instead of fear, this act provoked hostility and distrust on the part of the Mongols, which ultimately led to toughening centralization, the actual liquidation of autonomy in 1937, and the failure of national policy, which required significant adjustments. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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