Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-04
mr. THE BACK doom.

| The necessity for eendinB ciB P""'
tive expedition against the mad Mulish,
who has again stirred up tribal revolt
along tho indian border. may delay
more important movement, which. IT Is
believed. is contemplated In connection
with Professionalism policy. For some
! months back the British ana native troops
I'm India have been under special training
! 10 mountain drill, and It has seemed very
evident that something out Of the ordi-
nary In tho way Of a military demonstra-
ton was ahead. Many persons who have
followed closely these preparations think
that they portend the prosecution OF
design that developed In 1856. but to all
appearances died 'a-bornin'.' In other
words. they think that they mean the
bringing of Thibet within the zone Of Bril-
tish influence
Great Britain has long had an eye to
the "propitiati ton" of Thibet, but not un-
IN 1886 did che show any disposition to-
| wards making organized OF official effort
in that direction. In that year, however,
she obtained from China, the nominal
suzeraIn Of Thibet. permission for the
Macaulay expedition TO visit Lhassa.
From London magnificent presents were
sent out TO India TO be taken by the ex-
petition TO the Llama, and the British
and the Indian press INDUCED In great
expectatons" touching the commercial
results OF establishing relations with
the mysterious land. But while the mem
bers of the expedition or mission were
gathering for their start the Thibetans
became alarmed and distrustful, and the
Pekin Government, hearing OF his, sug-
gested a postponement. The suggestion
was needed and the expedition recalled.
The Thibetans, on the frontier, however,
construed the recall as an evidence OF
timidity. and becoming emboldened in
vaded with heavy force the state of Six
kim. In the operations that followed the
British forces were successful. and after
driving the enemy out penetrated into
the Chumbi Valley. which is in Thibetan
| territory
Peace was then concluded, and there the
situation seemed to rest But it is seldom
that Great Britain abandons a design Ct
this character, once it has been seriously
conceived. She bides her time, and IL Is
argued that in this matter her time las
about come.
Those who advocate the inclusion or
Thibet in the sphere OF British influence
tell us that the object OF such consum-
nation would be TO benefit British trade
and secure during the hot season the
sanitarium for British residents in India
the elevated tablelands of Thibet would
afford. But the general situation and
drift OF events in the far East negative
the assumption that this is the whole
truth. The extension of the sphere OF
british Influence over Thibet would be
but the forerunner of annexation. Not
only would annexation give Great Britain
command of the headwaters of the great
rivers of Burmah and Siam, and the
watersheds Of important streams flowing
through China, but il would carry the
northeastern border Of Britain's empire
in the East to the frontier Of China pro-
per. 1t would seem, therefore. that in
this matter, In addition to having regard
for trade and health considerations, the
British have taken thought Of the advisa-
biity of being in position to enter China
by the back door. when shall strike the
hour for the partition Of the Flowery
Kingdom.