360 A TIBETAN EPISODE. 



of coming to a reasonable settlement,-^ being made 

 known to the people through an official proclamation 

 issued by Colonel Younghusband ; and it is more than 

 probable that before these pages appear in print a 

 British force will have torn aside the anomalous cur- 

 tain of mystery that has for so long enveloped the 

 sacred city of Lhassa. 



In reviewing the developments in this quarter in 

 recent years, it must be admitted that the Indian 

 Government did not fail to grasp the full meaning of 

 the question, and having done so, were not slow to 

 make up their minds as to the procedure which they 

 considered necessary. In January 1903 they earnestly 

 urged that a British mission should be despatched 

 to Lhassa, there to conclude a definite treaty signed 

 by both Chinese and Tibetan officials, and they ex- 

 pressed the opinion that such action should culminate 

 in the appointment of a permanent British repre- 

 sentative, consular or diplomatic, to reside at the 

 capital. 



It was no desire for political or territorial aggran- 

 disement that prompted such counsels, but rather the 

 clearly recognised necessity for protecting our un- 

 doubted interests, and for rendering abortive any 

 future endeavour — only too clearly foreseen — by any 

 other Power to secure vested interests in the vicinity 

 of the Indian frontier, which would undoubtedly 

 become sooner or later a grave menace to the security 

 of our Indian Empire. The vital importance which 

 they attached to their views was emphasised by their 



^ "The nature of the terms to be exacted will greatly depend on the 

 attitude of the Tibetan Government, to whom further opportunity of a 

 reasonable settlement of the matter in dispute will be offered." — Extract 

 from the proclamation issued by Colonel Younghusband on July 13, 1904. 



