Mission and Revolution in Central Asia - Svenska Missionskyrkan

same time efforts were made to control this distant province both by political and military
means. The first few decades of the 20th century saw the introduction of censorship. And no
one could leave the country without paying a deposit. These measures were taken in order to
stop people from going to Russia, returning later with socialistic ideas. 113
Britain, too, had interests in Eastern Turkestan. Via India, Britain could send both people
and ideas. The aim was to take up competition with the Russians and to conquer
commercially this province so neglected by the Chinese. In the early 1870s already, a British
delegation, headed by Sir T. D. Forsyth had shown great interest in the possibility of
increasing relations with India, particularly in the field of commerce.
From 1886 Britain’s man in Kashgar was Sir Francis Younghusband. He was formally
introduced as an explorer, but his real commission was to study the political development in
the country with a special eye on the influence of the Russians. 114 In 1892, Britain opened a
business office in Kashgar. Sir George Macartney became its first manager. Later on, in.
1909, when the British Consulate was established, he was appointed Consul-General. 115
During his first years in Eastern Turkestan, he was called “a political agent”. His success can
be understood through the description of him made by Mannerheim, who after having seen
him at work describes him as a “completely acclimatized half Chinese”. 116 Sir George was to
continue in his position until 1918 and both he and his wife, Lady Macartney, became real
friends of the Swedish missionaries during these years. Because of their official position, they
could assist their missionary friends on numerous occasions. In his inspection report of 1913,
The Secretary of Mission Sjöholm mentions Sir George’s very positive attitude to the
Mission. During Sjöholm’s inspection tour, the missionaries decided to call upon the Mission
Board in Stockholm to propose Sir George as a candidate for a Swedish Order of Merit. 117
One of the Swedish missionaries, L.E. Högberg, was in fact commissioned to build the
Consulate. Sir George and Lady Macartney had noticed the great skills he had as a builder,
and after having been given the consent of the Mission Board, he started the project. The
buildings were indeed very well designed which was certified by many visiting Westerners. 118
After having seen the Consulate, Erich Teichman says that it looked more like an Embassy. 119
Britain had its chance in the early 1920s, when Russian activities were forbidden in
Kashgar. From 1925 British interests were however pressed back again. With all possible
legal means Britain tried to resist and combat the Soviet Russian influence. 120 Ella Maillart
writing about the two Consuls says that they were hardly best friends, but officially they
observed the diplomatic protocol. 121
In the towns around Kashgar the British Consul-General was represented by elders, the so
called aksakals, who were nationals. During the tough 1930s, the missionaries in Jarkend
113
Nyrén, B., 1928, p. 88.
114
Hedin, 1893 II, p. 453 and Lattimore, 1928, p. 47. In the book The Heart of the Continent (London, 1896),
Younghusband describes his time in Eastern Turkestan.
115
Lattimore, 1950, p. 41. Mirsky, 1977, p. 136.
116
Törnquist, 1926, p. 182. Mannerheim, 1940, p. 47. Macartney spoke perfect Chinese. When he came to the
country, British influence was still non existent. During his time in Kashgar up to 1918, when he left the country,
the British influence was built up and increased constantly. (Younghusband in Etherton, 1923, p. 97 f.)
117
Inspection minutes, 1913.
118
Lattimore, 1930, p. 116.
119
Teichman, 1937, p. 151.
120
Ibid. P. 152.
121
Maillart, 1940, p. 256. The Russians saw Britain’s influence as an undue encroachment. Petroffski thus
ignored Macartney totally during his first days. For two years he did not speak to him. (Mirsky, 1977, p. 136 f.)
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