DALAI LAMA FLEES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 750, 24 February 1910, Page 7

DALAI LAMA FLEES.

CHINESE OPPRESSORS. DESECRATION IN "THE HOME OF BUDDHISM." : By Telecrnrh-Prcas Association—Oopyrlght (Eec. February 23, 10,40 p.m.) Calcutta, February 23. The Dalai Lama and several Tibetan nobles haye crossed the Indian ..frontier, -.. Their flight is due to Chinese troops from the . province, of Kham (in East' Tibet),; who.: looted the 'monasteries,'on reaching the Tibetan capital, Lhassa, a? reported in "The Times" of January H. MANY LAMAS KILLED. PROTEST IN THE NAME OF BUDDHA Lhassa, the city ,of monasteries and priests, the Homo of Buddhism, at ono time almost ;a sealed book, has fallen on evil days. The following appears in "The Times" of January 14: The Ambans Accused. "Private advices from a. well-informed Source disclose the serious 6itaation which has' arisen in Tibet owing to "the constant friction between the Chinese authorities and the Tibetans.../ The Viceroy, Ohou, docs not seem to exercise any real power, which apparently lies in the hands ,of lien ana -Wen, the senior and junior Ambans resident at Lhassa. Six mandarins administer the civil, power, but ignore, the/wishes: of- the Tibetan 'public and of the committee or council who are .supposed t'o assist them,- The' position' lhas become.'so . intolerable representatives of this general committee' arrived 'in 'Calcutta and sent a long telegram on December 8 to the; Wai-wu-pu praying; the Einperor..,6f-. CWna/to, interfere in- .the interests of the sacred Buddhist, religion, . ."The . telegrum accuses, the Ambans of - the ~ desecration "and. destruction of monasteries, and states, that mariv Lamas have been., killed by the, non-Buddhist soldiery, and that the people in. many districts are l subjected: to <oruel oppression. It further declares . that; the .proposal of the committee, that the British guards which have been-withdrawn from the newly, opened trade marts should, be replaced by Tibetan police trained under Chinese officers,'. hns ■ been rejected,;, and that Chinese soldiers have been sent- instead.': • V'.'' -v': ■

-The Petition to China. . to-a free translation, a port tion or the telegram,. runs:—'We qannot bear, further . ill treatment. ,' If mote troops come, bur.powoj: ijfll be lost, and the Dalai , Lama will remain" in sorrow.'. Tihet, ip a holy place. If ,the T existipa, system of law bo 'abolished, the Buddhist, religion will surely bo lost. . The Tibetans cater more for., religion than for their lives.' The Dalai feina-pointed. out these .mistakes from his.camp to; the' Resident,: but Lion'disregarded ms letter.'; The' Sarcom of Tibet prolonged hisjoumcy. Many interruptions occurred, Therefore the .Tibetans stopped- supplies ; for Lien,. If, the Ambans and . thetroops .'are not withdrawn all Tibetans will probably rfc volt and muoh.trouble will follow,', The message closes with a prayer to the Ehk perorto treat y the Tibetans kindly as ho has dono heretofore, and thereby earn their perpetual gratitude. .At the timo when the telegram was sent the Dalai Lama ;had' .not reached Lhassa, but ;he htis arrived .thcro sincc. Sacrod Books for Soldiers' Boots. ■■■:.. ['. "The statement .as to the desecration of . monasteries; seems' to bo truo, and sacred books have been used to make boots for non-Buddhist soldiers.' It is reported that arnled ■ bands 1 oi Tibetans ara : now'' fa.co to face .with troops J at. Chhamdb,, and a conflict is. possible. ; "There are only'2oo'Chinese'eoldiors/at Lhassa itself..' The committee : have ceived; no. reply from. Peking, thoughreminders have been' sent.' It. is believed that the'Wsii-wu-pu neglected to place the appeal beforo the Emperor,".- ,'.