The influence of the opium problem on Russian-Xinjiang trade, economic and political relations in 1914-1920s

The so called "opium problem", that is the influence of a large-scale import and distribution of opium by English merchants on inner and international situation of China, was investigated by Soviet, Russian and foreign scientists very closely. But its influence on the development of trade, economic and political relations between the Chinese province of Xinjiang and Tsarist and later on Soviet Russia and the USSR was not within the frame of investigation. The analysis of the documents shows that in pre-revolutionary and post-revolutionary periods, at least up to the end of the 1920s, opium as well as gold, silver and saiga antlers became not only the main currency in the trade with Xinjiang but also one of the main reasons which encouraged the active development of smuggling in this province. It is known that in the stated period opium was a subject of bargaining in building political relations with central and local Chinese authorities. Not once it became a hindrance in Russian-Chinese negotiations on establishing diplomatic, trade and economic relations. The problem with the establishment of a post of a Soviet commercial agent in Kuldjing district is a vivid illustration of the influence of the opium problem on forming the relations between the leaders of the Soviet state and the authorities of the province. At first, the local authorities agreed with this suggestion of Soviet Russia. But when in April 1920 Vneshtorg Department in Jarkent toughened the fight against smuggling in the Russian border line zone. The Department detained a part of opium belonging to Kuldjing merchants as if received from the regional council of national economy according to the treaties for bringing horses and short fur coats to the Semirechensky front. As a result, the rapprochement between Russia and Xinjiang was suspended. White Guards also built their relations with the authorities of China and its western province using opium. It is necessary to note that during the Civil War opium was the main component of smuggling at the Russian-Chinese border. It is explained by the fact that it was one of the equivalents of currency for payment for acquired goods. The problem of opium smuggling was solved only by the end of the 1920s after the foundation of the USSR. So the opium problem really affected all the complex of political, trade and economic relations with China and Xinjiang which were established at first by the Tsarist and Provisional governments of Russia, and during the Civil War by the governments of the Bolsheviks and White Guards and, at last, by the government of the Soviet Union. The influence of the opium problem will come to the end only in the second half of the 1930s.

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