354 A TIBETAN EPISODE. 



Nevertheless, in spite of Russian denials of any deal- 

 ings with Tibet, she left no room for doubt as to the 

 interest she took in that country, and in February 1903 

 she took occasion to take Great Britain brusquely to 

 task on account of a supposed military expedition which 

 she was informed had been despatched across the 

 Indian frontier, " In view of the very great import- 

 ance which the Imperial Russian Government attaches 

 to the avoidance of any cause of trouble in China, it 

 M^ould consider such an expedition into Tibet as cal- 

 culated to produce a situation of considerable gravity, 

 which might eventually force the Russian Government 

 to take measures for the protection of its interests in 

 those regions." And this was the Government which 

 had not hesitated to despoil China of the vast territory 

 of Manchuria ! 



The " authoritative information " of the supposed ex- 

 pedition was without the slightest foundation, and it is 

 not surprising to find Lord Lansdowne characterising 

 the language of the Russian Embassy as " unusual and 

 almost minatory in tone." It is refreshing to find the 

 Foreign Office taking a firm stand, and to hear it 

 declaring that, in view of our special interests in Tibet, 

 it followed that should there be any display of Russian 

 activity in that country, we should be obliged to reply 

 by a display of activity not only equivalent to but 

 exceeding that made by Russia. 



Nevertheless, in spite of such declarations, Russian 

 officiousness made itself felt, as may be seen from the 

 despatches from the India Office, dated February 27 

 and May 28 respectively. In the former it is admitted 



XI. "All mining and railway interests will be in Eussian hands, but 

 Chinese will be allowed to participate." 



XII. " Russia undertakes in the construction of railway lines or forts not 

 to destroy or interfere with temples or other sacred spots." 



