ALBEIT the geographical distance between Myanmar and Russia is over 4,000 miles, the relations between the two brotherly nations deepen and strengthen more like a friend in need and a good brother of rain or shine. The diplomatic ties between the two nations formally started on 18 February 1948. Marking the Diamond Jubilee (75th Anniversary) of the diplomatic ties, the current relations shine brighter under the administration of the SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
The two brotherly nations share a
rich history. Dating back many years, it is an auspicious and historical
phenomenon with the Myanmar-Russia relations strengthening.
It is a surprising and incredible
coincidence that it happens according to the Buddha’s prophecy described on
Page 48 of U Aung Zay Ya’s autobiography noted by Maha Bithaka Pandita Pali
Sayagyi U Saw. It was titled “prophecy-alliance”, stating that Buddha told his
principal disciple Ananda that King Thawma of the rats dug tuber crops and
offered them to Buddha and Ananda asked why the Buddha smiled. Buddha has
prophesied that Russia would be one of 12 leading western countries after over
2,000 years of the Buddhist Era. The King of those Russians would own superior
arms and weapons. That King and Myanmar King would-be allies. This revelation
has become reality.
Myanmar’s feudal rulers endeavoured
to promote relations with Russia in the pre-colonial era. This article will
reveal this untold truth and history. Genuine efforts to start friendship ties
with Russia have started since King Mindon of the Konbaung dynasty, with solid
evidence.
Agga Maha Senapati Kinwun Mingyi Min
Thadoe Mingyi Maha Minhla Sithu Kyaw, duke under King Mindon sent a letter to
patriarch Gevorg-IV of Armenia in 1875 (1237 ME). At that time, there was no bishop
in the Russian Orthodox church. Yerevan is the capital of Armenia, which was a
part of the Russian Empire. He was the patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic
Church (1865-1882). He disclosed in the letter that Mr Uprin from Russia, who
was considered an Armenian ship owner merchant Mr Ovanes Amirkhan as per the
contemporary document, travelled to Myanmar in 1873 (1235 ME) while Myanmar was
attempting to build an alliance with Russia. At that time, Russia was under the
reign of Alexander II (1855-1881). The foreign minister was Alexander Gorchakov
(1856-1882). King Mindon was so delighted with the encounter with a Russian
traveller. He cordially hosted him and gave a letter to the Armenian supreme
patriarch with the aim to establish diplomatic ties with Russia through a
missionary. The Armenian patriarch replied to a letter to King Mindon with a
picture of a missionary bishop who was expected to come to Myanmar through an
Armenian traveller. King Mindon was so pleased with the letter. Archbishop
Gregory made his mission trip in 1878 (1237 ME). King Mindon welcomed the
archbishop in a gracious and attentive act. He responded to it in the letter
referring to King Mindon that he would relay a message to Russia’s King
Alexander II and Foreign minister Alexander Gorchakov, regarding Myanmar’s
willingness to build ties with Russia. He would address King Mindon about their
expressions and thoughts.
Regarding this letter, K.A. Snow
wrote an article entitled “Russian as the ‘Western Other’ in Southeast Asia;
Encounters of Russian Travellers in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century”
in Russia Review-Journal (Vol.71, No 2 April 2012).
Myanmar King Mindon and Thailand’s
King Mongkut and King Chulalongkorn became aware of Russia’s naval power in
eastern Asia and Southeast Asia. They noticed how Russia competes against
European imperialism in China. Russia did not create separate colonies like the
British and France. It was the Western Other that could assist in the fights
against imperialism and colonialism. Nevertheless, Russia’s empire viewed
central Asian countries and China as its Pivot to the East policy. It was
beware of yet remained away from confrontation with European colonialism in
Southeast Asia in the early 19th century. Consequently, it mulled over knitting
diplomatic ties with southeast Asian nations.
The Russian community realized the
first Anglo-Myanmar War (1824-1826) through Russian-translated articles written
in German and French during the early 19th century. They studied Myanmar’s
history, the structure of the nation, trade, laws, education and religion
through Russkii Invalid, Aziatskii Vestnik, Moskovskii Telegraf and Moskovskie
Vedomosti journals in the 1820s. Personal views and experiences of Russian
travellers shared about the public opinion on Russia from Asia and Southeast
Asia, politics, culture and important insights in the 1870s. Later, Myanmar’s
geographical features, components of nations and tradewere taught in school and
young people were able to study them. The Russian community knew about the
British invasion in the second Anglo-Myanmar War (1852) and the third
Anglo-Myanmar War (1885) through articles. In the late 19th century, Myanmar
became a part of Russia’s prospects in Southeast Asia.
King Mindon believed that Myanmar
needed to develop diplomacy, relations and trade with some European countries
in addition to the reforms in education and forging advanced technology after
the revolution against the British in the second Anglo-Myanmar War (1852-1853).
King Mindon is a compassionate and
brilliant ruler. He strived for diplomatic and friendly relations with some
European countries, including France, Italy and Russia. Kinwun Mingyi U Kaung
(1822-1908) played a pivotal role in establishing diplomatic efforts with
western countries. He served in a monarchy and accomplished diplomatic tasks.
He was awarded many titles. He created and maintained strong international
ties. Although the prime minister’s position was not officially appointed in
Myanmar’s monarchy, European diplomats considered him a prime minister. He also
led a delegation to England as the right hand of the King in 1871.
Additionally, he advocated the delegation to strengthen the ties with the
western countries in 1872. U Kaung has been cited as a liberal leader who
wanted to practice a constitutional monarchy system. As he was fluent in
English and French, he made efforts to actively contact Russian travellers. He
was resolute to safeguard the sovereignty and maintain independence. During the
Crimean War between Russia and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the UK and
France (1853-1856), Myanmar saw Russia as a possible new ally. Myanmar
witnessed strong competitiveness between Russians and the British and wanted
Russia to protect Myanmar from the British’s invasion or form a diplomatic
alliance. Myanmar’s King and its ministers realized Russia’s Pivot to the East
policy on Central Asia and Asian-Pacific regions through the translated
newspapers.
Armenian people under the Russian
Empire found Russia essential to its security. They are Christians from
Apostolic Orthodox Church. In 1863, Armenian Gregorian Church was established
as a self-autonomous institution. Myanmar’s monarch persuaded Mr Ovanes
Amirkhan who was considered to be an Armenian merchant to connect with the
supreme patriarch in order to stride in Myanmar-Russia relations.
A Christian church was constructed at
Yadanabon, the royal capital of the Konbaung dynasty, in March 1873 and
Archbishop Gregory, a representative of the supreme patriarch Gevork-IV of
Armenian, came to Myanmar to have a chief pastor entrusted to a church. That
bishop has requested a Russian Church Patriarch to establish Myanmar-Russian
diplomacy. Myanmar also sent a request letter to the Russian Church through a
little-known guest named Usharov. The Russian church received this letter and
forwarded it to the Russian government. The Russian government responded with
grace yet there were no formal diplomatic relations. King Mindon explored other
indirect paths to the creation of diplomacy. A Persian consul from Bombay
visited Mandalay in 1874 and Myanmar’s minister also asked for diplomatic
relations with Russia through Russian diplomat Mr A.F Berger to Persia.
Nonetheless, Alexander II declined a request as Myanmar was out of reach in
terms of politics and trading interests.
Russia might have a hunch that
Myanmar desired Russia to protect it from the British’s invasion beyond a
diplomatic tie. So, Russia did not want to aggregate relations with the
British.
In 1875, Myanmar approached a Russian
Mr G. Neniukov with an intensive background in international relations
knowledge to build a bridge between Myanmar and Russia. During his trip to the
East, he visited Captain Strover who was an English representative in Mandalay
in early 1975 after the visit to the main cities in India. He stayed at the
house of that representative and King Mindon met him at the Palace where he
inquired about the objectives of the trips, his service year and his home
country and discussed Russia-Myanmar relations with King Mindon and Kinwun
Mingyi. He was asked to take a letter with him to the Russian minister of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. King Mindon expressed affection for Russia and its
people and respect for Alexander II. King’s willingness to create diplomatic
relations with Russia was enclosed in the letter written in French. The
Minister presented this letter to Alexander II. However, his response on 28
January 1876 showed no sign of establishing formal diplomacy. Friendly visits
and exchanges were suggested then. The writings of a Russian traveller Mr P.I.
Pashino extended adoration for the friendship between the two countries. He
believed that the Russian empire would play a pivotal role in Southeast Asia.
He worked for the Asia Division of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in Persia (1861) and
Tajikistan (1866-67). However, he was considered a critic of Russia’s central
Asian colonization by Soviet writers. Mr Pashino stopped in Yangon in 1876
during his world tour including Egypt, India, Malaysia, China and Japan.
He witnessed the natural scenic
beauty of tropical areas with natural forests during the upstream tour to
Mandalay along the Ayeyawady River. The astonishing views of the villages and
pagodas and temples at the old capital of Amarapura enchanted him. He felt
empathy for Myanmar struggling under British rule after meeting Myanmar people
in different living classes. He described King Mindon as a brilliant ruler with
a knowledge of European culture and he showed his respect and devotion to the
King.
During his stay in Myanmar, Mr P. I
Pashino advocated how to initiate diplomacy with Russia and also put forward
positive tactics to maintain freedom of politics and economics. The British
controlled lower Myanmar and sea ports so he suggested a railway project in the
northeast region to the China border to conduct global trade. He expected this
railway to link to Russia after years. He submitted a report regarding
Myanmar’s condition and his trip to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian
Federation and shared his story with popular news outlets in Russia.
“Russia is the centre of attention
among Asians. Out of the blue, some Asians believed Russia would be the saviour
of colonial rulers. King Mindon is one of those enthusiastic believers. He even
acquired the translated version of Peter the Great’s history in detail.
In November 1876, King Mindon and
Kinwun Mingyi gave two letters to Alexander Gorchakov, foreign minister of
Russia and Dmitry Milyutin, the Minister of War via Mr P. I Pashino, call upon
the establishment of consulates in Myanmar and Russia. Moreover, hospitality to
Russian travellers proved cooperation efforts and amiability of Myanmar’s
monarch, the first letter stated. The second letter revealed a request for
Myanmar young people to have an opportunity to attend military schools and
training facilities. Also, they called for sufficient skilled personnel to
assist in weapon production in Myanmar and share military thought.
Mr N.G. Giers who was working at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1882-1895) warned that this request could threaten
the relations with the British.
He suggested Dmitry Milyutin slow
down the response time. Nonetheless, the Foreign Minister discussed with N.G.
Giers and Dmitry Milyutin to respond with grace. The letter unveiled that
Russia welcomed Myanmar’s youths in science and manufacturing education.
Yet, this plan had not been
implemented anyhow. Myanmar seemed to turn to France to seek consular
assistance as France actively participated in Myanmar’s affairs. Meanwhile,
Russian officials still viewed Myanmar as too far from them according to
geographical conditions. Furthermore, possible misunderstandings between
Britain and France still bothered Russia then.
Before King Mindon passed away in
1878, he was eager to establish ties with Russia and expressed his respect and
appreciation to Peter the Great. The successor King Thibaw (1878-1885) was also
dying to call for assistance from Russia and some European countries to combat
British rule. The weakening rule of the Myanmar monarch in the 1880s and the
business economic recession (1885) were contributing factors to the end of the
Konbaung dynasty and the surrender of the King under British rule in upper
Myanmar.
Russian travellers persisted in
visiting Myanmar in the colonial period and they criticized Britain over
colonization.
Regarding the Russian consulate in
Myanmar, the British proposed that if they allowed British consulates in
Irkutsk and Samarkand, it would give green light to the Russian consulate in
Myanmar.
The Russian government decided that
they did not need to set up one in Myanmar as only a handful number of Russian
ships were seen at Yangon Port at that time. Later, German Mr Fokke who helped
the captains of Russian ships were appointed as vice consul. Myanmar and Russia
conducted normal trade and crude oil was the main item. Then, Russia shifted to
the expansion of naval power in the East, the Soviet invasion of Manchuria, relations
with China and Thailand and the straits of Singapore owing to its maritime
trade interest.
The aforementioned untold facts are
presented to show how Myanmar exerted utmost efforts to establish ties between
Russia and Myanmar during the Konbaung dynasty, the last monarch of Myanmar.
Those great efforts of the Myanmar
King and ministers played a significant role to establish diplomatic relations
with Russia. The geographical conditions make things exponentially more
difficult and Myanmar reaped only a small success. This article is written to
celebrate the Diamond Jubilee (75th Anniversary) of Myanmar-Russia diplomatic
relations that takes place on 18 February 2023.
Reference
- Page 48 of U Aung Zay Ya’s autobiography noted
by Maha Bithaka Pandita Pali Sayagyi U Saw
- original letter of Kinwun Mingyi to Armenian
Patriarch Gevorg-IV
- Article entitled “Russian as the ‘Western
Other’ in Southeast Asia; Encounters of Russian Travellers in the Second Half
of the Nineteenth Century” by K.A. snow published in Russia Review Journal
(Vol.71, No.2 April 2012)
Translated.
No comments:
Post a Comment