164 NATURE'S IDEAL 



been attacked. Five hundred of us had for two 

 months to face the attacks of eight thousand 

 Tibetans. Later, again, we had had a long, tough, 

 diplomatic contest with the Tibetans. 



Besides battling with the elements and with the 

 Tibetans, I had also had to battle with my own 

 people — as is always and inevitably the case on such 

 occasions. Military and political considerations 

 had to contend against each other. This local 

 question between India and Tibet was part of the 

 general international question of the relations of 

 European nations, Russia, France, Germany, 

 Italy, America, with China, for Tibet was under 

 the suzerainty of China. Local considerations had 

 therefore to contend with international considera- 

 tions. Then from the local point of view the 

 permanent settlement of this particular question 

 was desirable, whereas those responsible for the 

 international situation would not object to a tem- 

 porary arrangement of this single question as long 

 as the whole general situation could be favourably 

 secured. The Tibetan question was part of the 

 whole question of our relations with Russia. Our 

 relations with Russia were connected with our 

 relations with France. We were coming to an 

 arrangement with France as regards Egypt and 

 Morocco. If we did anything in Tibet which 

 vexed Russia she might be troublesome as regards 

 Egypt, and make it difficult to come to an arrange- 

 ment with France and to bring off the Anglo- 

 French Entente. Of all these international con- 

 siderations I was kept aware by Government even 

 in the heart of Tibet. But my position required 



