The sun., 1904-07-12
The New Tibet.

No wonder that many people in Eng
land are asking official information
concerning the cause of the Tibet e1-
pedition, or that they should be asking
questions regarding the probable out
come Of it.
Various causes have been assign ed,
unoficially, in explanation of the in
vasion. 1t has been alleged that Russian
influence was at work in Lhasa with a
view to establishing Russian influence
if not Russian control Of the Tibetan
area. 1t has been claimed that this
would bring Russia along the border Of
India and constitute perpetual menace
to England's interests in that country.
This seems an extremely far fetched If
not utterly groundless theory.
There is probably no better authority
on Tibetan matters than SVEN HEDIN,
the Swedish explorer. He declares that
the Russians are as cordially hated in
Tibet as are the English. and that q Rus
sian invasion Of Tibet is an utter i'm
possibility by reason of the labyrinth Of
impregnable mountains on the northern
border OF Tibet. These, with the vast
arid areas of the country itself and the
additional barrier Of the difficulties pre-
sented by the mountains on the India
Tibet border, would seem to put even a
possibility Of Russian attack on India
from that direction quite out Of the ques-
ton. Russia would no doubt be glad to
dominate Tibet, and India also; but the
inquest Of India is not likely to be
essayed via Tibet.
Another alleged reason for the expe-
dition is the English charge of Tibetan
disregard and violation Of the trade
treaty, effected with some difficulty in
1890, and the discourteous if not insulting
attitude toward British protests against
Tibetan indifference to this treaty. If
this be the case, the game is hardly worth
the candle A greater volume of equally
profitable trade could be had elsewhere
for smaller cost in money and loss Of
human life.
England, of course, has been charged
with a deliberate attempt at conquest
and annexation. AS this has been Off
cially denied, the point is not open to
consideration.
Whatever the cause of the movement,
England has now gone so far in the mat
ter that withdrawal is impossible. Nor
can she simply march to Lhasa, fighting
along the way, effect a new treaty and
then withdraw. Such proceeding
would be almost farcical. 1t would be
a repetition, though on larger scale, of
the experience Of fifteen years ago. 1t
would seem that England must at least
establish an official representative in
the country and probably demand some
form OF indemnity.
With a British representative in the
land Of the larnas, the door can hardly
be closed to the representatives of other
countries. Perhaps no other than Rus
sia would care to be there, but the OPEN
ing Of the embassies of two such Powers,
with the military guards imperative for
even a moderate measure Of protection,
could not fail to exert an important in
fiuence on the lives Of the native people
and to effect a radical change in the
native policy
No other result now seems possible
than that to those Of the next generation
Tibet, the land of mystery, will be no
more mystery. 1t is even possible that
by that time the hills which border the
Chumbi Valley may echo the shrek Of
the locomotive and Lhasa be equipped
with telephones and electric lights.