Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-13
joins Thibet. The British sent up troops
Opening Of Thfbet to Trade.

Opening Of Thfbet to Trade.
The Thibetans withdrew to the interior
ana agreed to make a commercial treaty
ana open their market to Indian goods,
promising to send a plenipotenttary to Cal
cutta for that purpose within six months;
but he has never appeared, and frequent re-
mirders from the British have passed
without notice.
When Lord Curzon came to India he de-
termaned to reverse the policy of indiffer-
ence Whlch had been pursued by Lord Ell
gin, his predecessor. The opening of Thibet
10 lnolan trade has been one of the prin-
clpal features of his administrative pro-
gram Last year he sent to Lhassa an am
passador In the person of Col Younghus-
pand, distinguished Asiatic traveller, who
SPEAKS the language of Thibet. to talk
thlngs over and persuade the Dalai Lima,
as the chief ruler of Thibet is called, to
carry out his promise about the treaties.
Inc grand Llama refused to receive Col.
Aouhshusoand. and would have nothing
Whatever to do with him, rejecting his
overtures without explanation and treating
nus messages with contempt. Lord Curzon
pnere1ore concluded to apply a little pres
sur sule' ana TWO months ago sent Col. Young
husband pack to Lhassa with credentials as
munster plenipotentiary and instructions
10 negotiate the Compromised treaty with
out further delay; and he was accompanied
oy an escort Of $500 soldiers. fully armed
ana carrying supplies for two years.
1ns is an unusual method of conducting
diplomatic negotiations. but it is unu-
sudl case, and while Younghusband's in
strucuons are unknown and the public is
assured that his mission is entirely friendly
ana diplomatic, it Is the popular opinion
that he will remain in Lhassa. until he gets
Wnat ne went for and that his soldiers,
WIN mas TWO years' supplies and rapid-fire
guns, Will occupy the Thbetan capital per-
manently.
-, Inc Thfbetans have a large paper army
IKE the chinese equipped with spears,
or1 -,
Ouner antlquated weapons, and, like the
Chlnese before the war with Japan, they
oepeno more upon the demons that their
priests can control for their defense than
brighten their enemies by dancing around
In horrible false faces and throwing stink
pots instead of overcoming them by force.
China's Attitude.
China Is. Of course absolutely helpless,
and 1t Is understood that this expedition
has been undertaken with the consent of
the imperial authorities at Picking. 1t Is
undoubtedly true that the refusal of the
grand llama to send the usual ENJOYS from
Ih1bet to the Son of Heaven and other evil
dences OF a lack Of respect and confidence
nave caused much Indignation at Picking,
where wholesome chastsement of Thibet
by the English would not cause any sorrow.
II Is also probable that the Chinese well
come THIS invasion of Thibet as a defiance
VI IluSSid ana a counter 10 the
troubles that have occurred in Manchuria.
Of course the entire proceeding is sur
rounded with as much mystery possible.
NO explanations have been made at London
or at Calcutta; no newspaper correspond
entS nave been permitted to accompany the
expedition and the officers of Col. Young
husband s command have been forbidden to
communicate Information to their friends
and families during their absence.
We have no official information, but at
the same time ii is assumed by everybody
and it is not denied at headquarters that
the advance upon Lhassa would not have
been made but for the aggressive policy of
the Russian government in China and on
the frontier OF Afghanistan and Cashmere,
the outlying provinces under British pro-
lection. Russia has been feeling around
Burmah for several years; has sent out eX-
plorers as far as they dare 80, and secret
emissaries in the persons of Buriats, Mon
gol Bhuddists monks and priests who have
been successful in opening relations with
the Dalai, or grand llama He was persuad
ed to send a deputation to st. Petersburg
last year 1t was received with great hon
orS and ceremony and carried back to Thi-
bet costly gifts from the to their SOW
ereign. The character and extent of the re-
lations thus inaugurated are unknown, but
they are sufficient to make the English I'M
easy. No doubt Russia would extend its
influence" over Thibet if it were able to
do So nor is there any doubt that the cars
government has been trying to creep grad
ually down to the British boundary. 1t has
had similar agents in Nepal making friends
with the people and the mahajara, and,
particularly with the Brahmin priests who
have much influence there. All this endan
gers the tranquility and the prosperity of
India, and, if pursued much farther will
make it necessary to fortify the entire In
dian frontier
Aside from political considerations is the
desire of the Indian government to secure
the market of Thibet for the tea of Assam,
a province Immediately to the south of the
boundary. where the industry is developing
very rapidly. The llama priesthood at
Lhassa control the tea trade and get their
supply from China while it would be just
as easy and much more convenient and
economical, for them to secure it in Assam.
They could save at least a thousand miles
of transportation and promote the pros
perity of that province.
There are said to be rich gold mines in
Thbet Also but nobody knows anything
about them. The natives have always had
considerable gold, and have sent a great
deal to China. but where they obtain it has
never been disclosed and many English
men would be glad to solve the mystery.