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1945 Mongolian independence referendum

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Pro-independence propaganda (left) and a ballot paper (right)

An independence referendum was held in the Mongolian People's Republic on 20 October 1945.[1] It was approved by 100% of voters, with no votes against, according to official statistics. Voter turnout was 98.5%.[2]

Mongolia had gained de facto independence from the Republic of China in the Mongolian Revolution of 1921. In that year the last Chinese troops in the country had been expelled by the White Russian general Roman von Ungern-Sternberg, prompting Soviet intervention. The Mongolian People's Republic was effectively an unrecognized satellite state of the Soviet Union (USSR). Towards the end of World War II, the USSR pushed China for formal recognition of the status quo, threatening to stir up Mongolian nationalism within China. In the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance signed on 14 August 1945, China agreed to recognize Mongolian independence after a successful referendum. The actual referendum was regarded by both sides as political theatre.[3]

Results

Choice Votes %
For 487,409 100
Against 0 0.0
Invalid/blank votes 0
Total 487,409 100
Registered voters/turnout 494,960 98.5
Source: Nohlen et al.

See also

References

  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p490. ISBN 0-19-924959-8.
  2. ^ Nohlen et al., p491.
  3. ^ Sergey Radchenko (22 October 2015), "The Truth About Mongolia's Independence 70 Years Ago", The Diplomat. Retrieved 3 December 2019.