BRITAIN AND CHINA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 69, 13 July 1914, Page 2

BRITAIN AND CHINA.

THE POSmON OF TIBET. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press (Association.] London, July 11. in the House of Commons during the Foreign Office debate, Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Minister, stated that despite the treaty with Britain making China's position in Tibet secure, China had attempted to conquer Tibet and make it a province of China. If it resorted to the same policy in the future, disturbing the Indian frontier, Britain would undertake matters very seriously with China.

Tibet, which has an area of 403,200 square miles and a population estimated between three and six and a-half millions, lies on the slopes of the Himalayas, between Kashmir and the Chinese province of Szc-Chuan, with Chinese Turkestan on the north. The capital is Lhasa, with a population estimated at about 15,000. The country, by reason of its physical characteristics, its great mountains, and its height above the level of the sea, is of extreme interest, apart from the fact that it is the home of Buddhism. Several conventions and agreements have been arranged respectively between Britain, Russia, China and Tibet since 1890. In February 1910 some sensation was caused by the sudden departure from Tibet of the Dalai Lama (the head of the Government) on the ground that his power and security were menaced by the Chinese. He crossed the frontier into India, where lie was received with due respect by the Government. On learning of his (light the Chinese Government deposed him by Imperial Edict. In 1912 the Chinese revolutionary movement resulted in the .mutiny of the garrison at Lhasa, the abdication of the Amban (representative of the Chinese Govern, ment), and the establishment of a Representative Council more or less subordinate to the Provincial Government of Sze-Chuan. The Tibetans seized the occasion to rise against the Chinese, and met with such success that in June the Dalai Lama was encouraged to return to Lhasa. A military expedition organised by the Chinese Government in September with the object of reducing the Tibetans to subjection was recalled on the remonstrance of the British Government. The Tibetans concluded with the Chinese garrison of Lhasa an agreement acordina: to which the Chinese were allowed to evacuate the capital, and by March 1913 all Chinese officials had left Tibet.