Karakhan and the Issue of the Chinese Eastern Railway in Sino-Soviet Union Negotiations (1923-1924)
Vol. 54 No. 3 09/2024
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Title |
Karakhan and the Issue of the Chinese Eastern Railway in Sino-Soviet Union Negotiations (1923-1924) |
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Author |
Gao Chenxu, Chang Chih-yun |
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Genre |
Article |
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Pages |
533-571 |
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DOI |
10.6503/THJCS.202409_54(3).0004 |
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Download |
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Language |
Chinese |
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Key words |
Lev Mikhailovich Karakhan, Chinese Eastern Railway, Fengtian-Soviet Agreement, Chang Tso-lin 張作霖, Sino-Soviet Agreement |
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Abstract |
Lev Mikhailovich Karakhan (1889-1937), the Soviet Union’s diplomatic representative, attempted to resolve the issue of the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER) in a peaceful manner by negotiating with Marshal Chang Tso-lin 張作霖 (1875-1928) of the Fengtian 奉天 Clique. The negotiation process between Soviet diplomats, led by Karakhan, and the Fengtian Clique can be divided into six distinct parts: 1) a meeting in Mukden in August 1923, 2) the Borodin Proposal, 3) Chang’s denial of the Sino-Soviet Agreement, 4) the signing of the Fengtian-Soviet Draft, 5) Moscow’s rejection of the Fengtian-Soviet Draft, and 6) the confirmation of the Fengtian-Soviet Agreement. Throughout the negotiations, the challenges presented by warlordism and factionalism during the Northern period made it difficult for Soviet diplomats and the Fengtian Clique to reach a consensus on the specifics of additional clauses. However, due to the military threat posed by the USSR and the outbreak of the Second Zhili-Fengtian War, the Fengtian Clique was forced to yield. Although there are only minor differences between the Fengtian-Soviet Agreement and the Sino-Soviet Agreement, behind them lie the diplomatic efforts of Karakhan. |