THE THIBETAN TROUBLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2748, 1 March 1910, Page 5

THE THIBETAN TROUBLE.

DALAI LAMA BLAMED

United Press Association —Copyright SYDNEY, Feb. 23.

The Shanghai correspondent of the local Chinese paper attributes the Thibetan trouble, to the Dalai -Lama ignoring all the Government’s authority. It is believed that the Dalai Lama entered into an agreement with Russia; and other nations without consulting the Chinese Government. Tlie latter some time ago devised a greater China scheme in connection with Mongolia and Thibet. One of the reforms proposed was the conversion of the territories into Chinese provinces. This reform, it- is said, the Dalai Lama- strongly opposed.

MORE OF THE FACTS. (Received February 28, 9.55 p.m.) PEKIN, Feb. 28.

The Dalai 'Lama and the ChineseAiinban who commanded the troops quarrelled for supremacy. Both claimed Pekin’s authority. The Amban declared that Thibet had been proclaimed a Chinese province. There was some bloodshed at Lliassa ]>rior to the Lama’s flight.

THE POSITION OF THIBET. Thibet,which has a population variou»ly estimated at from 3,000,000 to 0,- ” -),000, ig by reason of its physical characteristics, its great mountains, and its height above the level of the sea, a country of extreme interest, apart- from the fact .that it is the home or Buddhism. The Dalai Lama- is th* head of the Government, assisted by a Council composed of a. Prime Minister and nine councillors, of whom five are priests and four laymen. The country is divided into four “lings,” each governed by a lama. There are two Ambans, or Chinese Residents, at Lliassa, who represent the Chinese Government, and Chin«e troops are stationed at Lliassa, Shigatse, and l Dingri. The three great monasteries outside Lliassa really govern the country, through the Tzongdu, or Great Assembly. .<■ By the Anglo-Thibetan Conventions of 1890 and J 893, Yatung, in the Chumbi Valiev, on the. Indian-Thibet frontier, was open ed for trade. A British mission under Colonel Young-husband was despatched during 1903 by the Indian Government to secure the observance of these Conventions- After considerable fighting Lliassa was reached on August 3, 1904, and a treaty was signed (September 7). Thibet- agreed >to establish markets at Gyangtse and Gartolc, in addition to Yatung, for British officials stationed thereat. Thibet agreed to pay Great Britain an indemnity of £16,000 in three instalments. These have all been j>aid, and the consequent withdrawal of the British from the Ohumbi Valley followed in 1908. Thibet also agreed not to cede, sell, lease, or mortgage any Thibetan territory to any foreign Power to intervene in Thibetan affairs, or to construct- roads or railways or open mine?: in Thibet. By- the Anglo-Russian Convention, 1907, both parties agreed to respect the territorial integrity of Thibet and the. suzerainty of China, and to treat with Thibet only, through the Chinese Government, though the terms of the Anglo-Chinese Convention:. of April 17, 1906, were left unaffected. The ji\vo Governments,undertook not to seek,, on their own or their subjects’ behalf, any railway, road, telegraph, or mining concessions or other rights in Thibet-7 By the Russo-Japanese Convention. signed July 30, the two Governments agreed to recognise the independence and territorial integrity of China and tlie principle of equal opportunity in commerce and industry for all nations in China. They pledged themselves to uphold the maintenance of the status quo. A new agreement as to trade relations between Great Britain and Thibet was signed in April, 1908, modifying the regulations qi 1593. The extra-territorial principle is to apply to British .subjects go long as the sarine principle applies in China. Other clauses deal with the maintenance of telegraphs and posts, and the rights of British officers and subjects, the police regulations at the marts and along the routes being left to- the Chinese Government. The agreement remains in force for 10 years, and if not revised for a further 10 years. The travels of Dr Sven Hedin have contributed greatly to European knowledge of Thibet and its people.