Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-13
The British and Thibet.

British persistence and British bullying
have, il would seem, triumphed Mt last IN
the matter of the designs of the govern
ment Of India upon Thibet. A recent
cablegram states that the authorities Of
India have concluded treaty with China
as Suzerain of Thibet, which will allow
the establishment of British marts within
the territory of the Lamas. This is con-
summation India has been endeavoring to
attain for years. On two or three occasions
she had nearly reached it when something
interviewed TO battle her. The MAcAULAY
expedition had with the sanction OF the
Pexin Government assembled on the Dor
ders of Thibet. ready to march to Lhasss
and open up the coveted land, but at the
last moment the Thibetians became sus-
picious, and the Sikkim complication arose
and led to hostilities. Since these ceased
there has been a series of negotiations
which finally closed in an agreement re-
garding the boundary line between British
possessions in India and Thibet and in the
treaty noted above. Meanwhile, however,
the powers at Calcutta have not been slow
in making such demonstrations at varions
points along the frontier as were calcu-
lated to inspire the Thibetians with whole
some respect for British arms.
The same cablegram which conveys the
intelligence Of the conclusion of the treaty
also says that it is regarded as happy
stroke of British diplomacy, In that it is
equivalent to the capture of the trade OF
districts which have hitherto been closed
to commerce. While access to Thibet will
undoubtedly secure for the British in In
dia valuable trade, much of the profits
of which will eventually find its way into
the Golfers of JOIN BULL at home, this is
not the only aspect IN which the treaty is
a happy stroke Of diplomacy. The do
main of the Lamas Is, 30 tar as explo-
ration by Europeans goes, almost as much
a mystery as the interior of Arabia. but
the wealth Of its products and the tempta-
tions 1t offers for the establishment of marts
are we'll known. Still, so far as the British
are concerned the trade treaty Is simply q
means looking to more important end.
1t is also strategic stroke which is the
fruition of policy bequeathed to Dur
PERM and adhered to by his successor. In
late article on 1.-The Duty and Destiny
of England in India" Sir EDWIN ARNOLD
SAYS If ever Russia dehes in earnest the
British Lion in that quarter of the globe
1.-THE strife will not end until the RoMASorF
dynasty has been ruined and Russia
broken up.n Though every one will
not be prepared to 60 to the length
Sir EDWIN does in respect OF the re-
suits OF the inevitable struggle between
Great Britain and Russia in the far East,
his words emphasize the higher significance
of British desire to obtain foothold in
Thibet. Russia is already gradually lap
ping around Northern Thibet, and her
emissaries are actively at work among bor-
dering tribes. Commerce. history, geogra-
ply, ethnography, and the general realm
Of scholarship will be served by the caravan
routes from India into the Thibetian val
leys, but none the less will be served British
purpose to meet Russia here, as elsewhere.
more than half way, when the moment
for the final and decisive grapple shall
have arrived. The preponderating object
of the Thibetian stroke of diplomacy is
of q piece with the preponderating object
of British operations in Cashmere. Beloo-
chistan, and Afghanistan. For the nonce
the last named. Tibet and part of Be-
loochistan are TO be buffers. but if, as
Sir EDWIN ARNOLD predicts, Russia, when
the contest comes. lis rolled back all
the way along her track of advance
to Krasnovodsk and the Caspian
marshes" their ultimate destiny will
be entire absorption into Britain's orient
al empire. The part therefore that the
Thibetian factor will play in working
out the problem of British or Russian
domination in Central Asia presents q
most interesting study. especially in view
Of the impression prevailing among those
best posted on Indian affairs. that the
solution cannot be much longer deferred.