dogu-turkistan-sempozyumu

Important Crossroads and the Chinese Occupation in the History of Eastern Turkistan / Prof Alaeddin Yalcinkayato sign a trade agreement and to establish permanent diplomatic ties with Kashgar,but also to collect and obtain any topographic, ethnographic and economic dataconcerning the country of Yakub Beg. 23 Later, a delegation, including Sir HenryTrotter, traveled to Kashgar and signed an agreement which was extremelysatisfactory to both sides on the 2 nd of February 1874; this agreement was aimedat developing the principles that were to be adhered to in trade relations. 24The Forsyth delegation signed a comprehensive trade agreement with theKashgar Amir. Other delegates prepared a report claiming that, despite everything,Kashgar was unable to resist Russia oppression any more than the other EasternTurkistan states had been able to. Shaw, who had been sent to Kashgar in linewith this agreement, was apparently a mere trade representative. However, hisreal mission was to shoulder responsibility as a political officer when necessary. 25During the years when the newly-established Kashgar State had completedits foundation phase, had gained power in military and commercial terms, andwas seeking external support, Russia had completed its occupation of the HokandKhanate. Despite the fact that Russia had already occupied many importantplaces, the Tsar’s administration postponed the total occupation of the Khanateand any official announcements of these developments, due to her concerns aboutinternational reactions. However, in a state of confusion at the emergence of astrong Muslim State in the region it was decided that this mission should then becompleted; the Hokhand Khanate officially collapsed on 2 March 1876.Occupation of Kashgar by China, assisted by Russia and Great BritainWhile British delegations, officers and merchants were traveling to Kashgarto sign agreements and to make contacts, Yakub Beg was carrying out farreachingactivities as a foresighted statesman. The Amir of Kashgar, aware of thevulnerability of his position and circumstances, took into consideration that China-and therefore Great Britain- would not welcome losing their former lands, andthat the Russians’ advance towards Turkistan had now arrived at the borders ofEastern Turkistan; the decision was made that measures had to be taken againstboth threats, as well as establishing a political and military cooperation with GreatBritain and the Ottoman Empire in particular. He sent his ambassador SeyyidYakub Khan Töre to Istanbul to present a declaration of loyalty to the sultan299