Bidding To Win Mongolia.

New York Times 100 years ago today, January 12, 1913:
Russia and China Making Counter Offers to Win Her Favor.
    ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 11.— Russia is urging Mongolia to negotiate a commercial treaty with Japan, so as to interest Japan in the maintenance of the new condition of things, and to counterbalance the efforts of China, which offers to open Mongolia to foreign trade if its sovereignty is restored, according to newspaper advices received here from Urga.
    The Novoe Vremya to-day says that Prince Khanda Van, Foreign Minister of Mongolia, and leader of the deputation now in St. Petersburg to thank Russia for its recognition, is proving amenable to all the Russian propositions. Khanda Van, it is said, has private reasons for hating the Chinese, who are alleged to have poisoned his only son at Peking. Russia, on the other hand, has now paid him $15,000 to compensate him for his losses in a cattle deal with a Russian subject five years ago.
    The deputation from Urga brought with it several Mongolian thrones and other characteristic presents for the Emperor of Russia.