New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-07

Not to let thy right hand know what thy left
hand doeth is advice that may readily be per-
Verted from its original intention. It appears
10 Mr. Crosby that Great Britain is following
that wise counsel for her own selfish ends in re-
gard to China on the Pacific. demanding the
open door," and opposing the efforts of rival
European nations to establish spheres of in
Huence" that threaten the integrity of the great
Asiatic empire, While at the same time en- the
great interior plateau of the continent she is
deayoring to pTy open the back door just wide
enough to admit herself. In his book Mr..
Crosby seeks to enlighten England's right hand
in regard TO its left hand doings and inciden-
tally to inform any other hands that may be
interested, to whomsoever they may belong. He
is also at pains to demonstrate that Russia, at
least is not unaware of this sinister proceeding,
and quite prepared to enter at the time, or
little sooner, even if she has to knock hole
through the wall in order to get in. That, at
any rate. is the way the author reads the i'm
preston made upon him by the Younghusband
expedition TO Lhasa, viewed in the light of his
own explorations and observations in Turkestan
and Tibet
The first half of his book is taken up with an
account of his experiences and adventures in
Russia and Chinese Turkestan and in the Aksai
CEn or White Desert in the extreme northwest
corner OF Tibet. The second half is devoted to
an Interpretation of the social. religious, eco
nomical and political conditions Of the regions
he traversed and into which he peeped Both
are interesting and worth reading, whether one
cares to follow the traveller-author all the way
10 the ends of his journeys or not He goes
great deal further in his excursion into the do
main Of Interpretation than he went in his ex-
pedition to Tibet. He started from Polu, on
the border Of Chinese Turkestan, with hone.
at least, of penetrating as far the Forbidden
City; but owing to the detection of his guide, the
lack Of thermometer and the loss of his nauti-
cal almanac he succeeded only in losing him
self in the desert He was fortunately rescued
by some friendly Kirghiz. who were brought to
his relief by two of his party who had taken the
desperate chance Of finding help by following the
course of stream which the main body re-
NAMED encamped, because their ponies were not
fit to carry them further and to proceed on foot
was impossible. His rescuers were unable to
conduct him to Rrdok. where he had planned TO
take a fresh start for Lhasa. and he simply
made a large loop in the mountainous wild,
emerging at last into Kashmir. where he def
1itely abandoned his intention. and crossing the
Srinigar Pass took the train at Rawal Pindi
for civilization.
While one cannot but regret that oversights'
hard to comprehend in so experienced a travel
Ter combined with what more than prob
ably well dissembled official effort to discour-
age his advance, should have greatly abbre-
waited his Journey the account of it, far as he
went is highly informing, entertaining and sug-
syestive What the author failed to see has since
been seen by the members of the Younghusband
expedition and given to the world by its chroh-
iclers Piecing out his own observations with
those of NIessrs. Landon and Gambler, Mr- Cros-
nv has undertaken to read very different
meaning into England's aggressive act from that
written down by its semi-official and partisan,
or let us say patriotic, recorders. In the first
Ylaca he holds that an effective Russian inYa-
sion Of India by way of Tibet is a physical irt-
Feasibility and that Great Britain would DC
much better able to withstand it on her own
prornd should Russia undertake it, than by a.
ternpting to meet her half way. The climate
and tho country would prove far more destruc-
i've than machine guns and artillery. In the
second place Mr.. Crosby maintains that Ilbet
not only should be privileged to be let alone II
she so desires but that, apart from her own
wishes in the matter, her continued privacy =
hest for the interests of Europe and Asia alike
If England should persist in her determination
- ra+afn a foothold in Tibet, which is under
Chinese protection, Russia, he says, viii lneVl-
+.b1xy feel compelled to extend her dominion over
chinese T71rkestan. II needs but glance al
tba man to see how far this will drive the now
e,+a-ing wedge toward the very heart of emma.
41o,- much further eastward the two European
f1