Mongolia’s International Legal Status: the 1945 Plebiscite
https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2025-3-490-505
Abstract
Introduction. The article is devoted to Mongolia's difficult path to de jure recognition of its independence, from the national liberation revolution of 1911 to 1945, when it was decided to "preserve the status quo of Outer Mongolia (the Mongolian People's Republic)" at the Yalta (Crimean) Conference (February 4–11). The National Democratic Revolution of 1921 and the proclamation of the republic in 1924 did not change the country's status. Beijing did not agree with the decision of the Yalta Conference. During several rounds of negotiations between the Soviet and Chinese sides in Moscow, the wording of the term "maintaining the status quo" became a stumbling block, among others. Each side had a different interpretation: the Chinese side implied the preservation of Outer Mongolia's autonomy as part of China under the protectorate of the USSR, the Soviet one is the position of the MNR in fact as an independent one. Under pressure from the Soviet Union, China agreed to recognize the independence of the MNR on condition that a plebiscite be held in the country and its results made public. On October 20, 1945, a popular vote was held, the results of which confirmed the de jure right of the Mongolian people to independence. The plebiscite was widely covered in the media, both in Soviet and Mongolian media. The State Archive of the Russian Federation contains TASS materials reflecting the reaction of the world press to the plebiscite in the MPR. Materials. The article is based on materials from the State Archive of the Russian Federation, the Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History, published collections of documents, scientific literature. Results and conclusions. Thanks to the decision of the Yalta Conference, Mongolia was able to achieve de facto and de jure recognition of its independence and become a full member of the world community. The Soviet Union, as a key participant in the Yalta Conference, acted as the guarantor of Mongolia's independence and actively promoted this issue in the international arena. Under pressure from the USSR and the Allies, the Republic of China recognized Mongolia's independence, but demanded a plebiscite, which took place on October 20, 1945. The results of the popular vote unequivocally confirmed the desire of the Mongolian people for independence.
About the Author
Keemya V. Orlova
Institute of Oriental Studies of the RAS (12, Rozdestvenka St., 107031 Moscow, Russian Federation)
Россия
Россия
Dr. Sc. (History), PhD. (Philology), Senior Research Associate
References
1. Batunaev E. V. Mongolia in the Struggle for Independence: from Khalkhin-Gol to Yalta (1939–1945). Ojkumena. Regional Researches. 2017. No. 2(41). Pp. 37–43. (In Russ.)
2. Bold R. Independence and Recognition. Mongolia in the Triangle of Interests: USSR – Russia – China, 1910–1973. Yu. N. Kruchkin (transl. from Mong.), A. Zheleznyakov (pref.). Moscow: Publishing House “The Whole World”, 2015. 400 p. (In Russ.)
3. Grayvoronskiy V. V. The Place of Russian-Mongolian Friendship Agreement of 1912 in the History of Russian-Mongolian Relations. Bulletin of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the RAS. 2023. No. 1 (23). Pp. 36–47 (In Russ.)
4. Dudin P. N. History of International Treaties, Confirming Status of Mongolia in the Beginning of the 20th Century (1911–1924). Bulletin of the Buryat University. 2011. No. 7. Pp. 162–165 (In Russ.)
5. Statement by the Representative of the Chinese Government on the Plebiscite in the MPR. Pravda. 25.10.1945. No. 255 (10026). 4 p. (In Russ.)
6. A Significant Day. Pravda. 10.22.1945. No. 253(10024). 4 p. (In Russ.)
7. Instructions for Conducting a Nationwide Vote on the Independence of the People’s Republic of Mongolia. Constitution and Basic Legal Acts of the Mongolian People’s Republic. S. S. Demidov (transl. from Mong..; ed. and introd. article). Moscow: Foreign Literature, 1952. Pp. 60–62. (In Russ.)
8. History in the Works of Scientists Lama. A. Zheleznyakov, A. Tsendina (comp.). Moscow: KMK Scientific Publications Partnership, 2005. 275 p. (In Russ.)
9. The Нistory of the East. Vol. 4. The East in Modern Times (late 18th – early 20th Century). Book 2. M.: Vostochnaya Literatura, 2005. 574 p. (In Russ.)
10. The History of Mongolia. 20th Century. Moscow: Institute of Oriental Studies (RAS), 2007. 448 p. (In Russ.)
11. To the Plebiscite in the MPR. Pravda. 21.10.1945. No. 252 (10023). P. 4. (In Russ.)
12. The Constitution and the Main Legislative Acts of the Mongolian People's Republic: transl. from the Mong. / S. S. Demidov (ed., introd. article). Moscow: Foreign Literature, 1952. 272 p.
13. Kuzmin S. L. The 1912 Russo-Mongolian Agreement and International Legal Status of Mongolia. Bulletin of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the RAS. 2023. No. 1 (23). Pp. 11–35 (In Russ.).
14. Kuras L. V. At the Origin of Mongolian Nation-Building (to the 110th Anniversary of the Treaty of Kyakhta). Bulletin of the Buryat Scientific Center (SB RAS). 2025. No. 2 (58). Pp. 118–125 (In Russ.)
15. The Mongolian Press on the Plebiscite of 1945. Pravda. 25.10.1945. No. 255 (10026). P. 4. (In Russ.)
16. Before the Plebiscite in the Mongolian People's Republic. Pravda. 10.20.1945. No. 251 (10022). P. 4. (In Russ,)
17. Plebiscite in the MPR. Pravda. 10.22.1945. No. 253 (10024). P. 4. (In Russ,)
18. Plebiscite in the MPR of 1945. Preliminary Voting Results. Izvestiya. 1945. No. 250 (8860). P. 4. (In Russ.)
19. Resolution of the Presidium of the Small Khural of the MPR on September 21, 1945 on Holding a Nationwide Plebiscite on the Independence of the MPR. The Constitution and the Main Legal Acts of the Mongolian People’s Republic. S. S. Demidov (transl, from the Mong.; ed. and the introd. article). Moscow: Foreign Literature, 1952. Pp. 58–60 (In Russ.)
20. Resolution of the Presidium of the Small Khural of the Mongolian People's Republic dated October 5, 1945, “On the Voting Formula for the Independence of the Mongolian People's Republic” // Constitution and Basic Legislative Acts of the Mongolian People's Republic. Moscow: Foreign Literature, 1953. P. 63.
21. Protocol on the Results of the Plebiscite on the Indepedence of the Mongolian People's Republic. In: The Constitution and the Main Legal Acts of the Mongolian People's Republic. S.S. Demidov (transl. from Mong.; ed. and the introd. article). Moscow: Foreign Literature, 1952. Pp. 65–68. (In Russ.)
22. Russian-Chinese Relations in the 20th Century. Materials and Documents. Vol. 4. Soviet-Chinese Relations. 1937–1945. Book 2. 1945 S. Tikhvinsky (ed.). Moscow: Pamyatniki Istoricheskoy Mysli, 2000. 704 p. (In Russ.)
23. Soviet-Mongolian Relations. 1921–1966. Collection of Documents. Moscow: GRVL, 1966. 360 p. (In Russ.)
24. Soviet-Mongolian Relations. 1921–1974. Documents and Materials. Vol. 1: 1921–1940. Moscow; Ulaanbaatar: International Relations, State Publishing House, 1975. 589 p. (In Russ.)
25. Soviet-Mongolian Relations. 1921–1974. Documents and Materials. Vol. 2: 1941–1974. Part 1. Moscow; Ulaanbaatar: International Relations, State Publishing House, 1979. 529 p. (In Russ.)
26. Khishigt N. 1945: The People of Mongolia Have Ratified Independence. Series–55. B. Batbayar (ed.). Ulaanbaatar: Global Partners Mongolia, 2020. 56 p. (In Mong.)
27. Tsybenov B. D. Mongolia: from the Status Quo to Legal Recognition. Izvestia of the Oriental Institute. 2015. No. 3 (27). Pp. 64–72 (In Russ.)
Review
For citations:
Orlova K. Mongolia’s International Legal Status: the 1945 Plebiscite. Mongolian Studies. 2025;17(3):490-505. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2025-3-490-505
Views:
16
JATS XML
Email this article 