New-York tribune., 1908-12-13

tire countries TO the admission Of strangers
and the general public. which forgets the strict
ness with which the native Indian reservations
of this continent were preserved from the in
trUsion Of the white man, is accustomed to as
sumo that this policy OF exclusion is peculiar
to the dusky hued nations of Asia and to Ger
tain native states Of Africa.
The beginning Of the nineteenth century
found China. Japan. Corea. Morocco. Tunis.
Abyssnia. Siam and Burma, as we'll as many
Of the Central Asian states, vigorously closed
TO the foreigner. Little by little the barriers
thus raised against the white races have been
removed. Japan, China and Corea have all
abandoned their policy of exclusion and have
begun intercourse with the outer world Tunis
and Algeria have become French Colonial de-
tendencies. while Abyssinia now puts forward
pretensions to be considered as Christian CIV
ilized state. forming part and parcel Of the in
terpational postal union. Siam has not only
opened its doors wide to the white man, but
has adopted many OF his luXures. and to-day
We hear Of automobiles being used by the score
for religious Buddhist professions in the streets
of Bangkok, while motor boats are employed
for state pageants by the King and his court
the River Menam.
Yet il would be & mistake to imagine from
this that so-called hermit states"-that is to
say. countries entirely closed to the foreigner
have ceased to exist. Tibet remains Just as
much of forbidden land ever, and although
Lord Curzon managed, while viceroy Of India.
TO send an English mission, that in the face of
untold difficulties and almost insuperable OBJ
stacles forced 1t way into the sacred and nnys-
terious city of Lhasa. yet Great Britain has
to-day combined with China and with Russia to
close once more the doors Of Tibet TO the outer
world. Indeed, the country is barred more
strictly than ever. For, whereas formerly the
AZ eyplOrer " IN Law hare
the geographical secrets OF Tibet could count
upon the good will and assistance OF tn Eng
nsh and Muscovite governments he now finds
them united with the Chinese and the Tibetans
in keeping him out of the Forbidden Land.
Even Sven Hedin, the famous Swedish ex-
plorer, who has just brought back TO the civil
ized world the rich fruits Of his latest journeys
IN Tibet-namely. the discovery OF tho sources
OF the Brahmaputra and of the hitherto un-
dreamt OF existence OF a double and triple range
Of gigantic mountains running parallel and i'm
mediately to the rear Of the Himalayas. discovs
cries Of priceless value TO Great Britain-was
prevented by the Indian government from en-
tering Tibet from English territory. and was
forced, at no end OF risk and expense to enter
II from the north
England also denies entrance from her terri
tory to Afghanistan to all white men. DO matter
whether English or foreigners. unless they have
previously ISCSlFS0 d hpeCldi permit from inc
Ameer, which is only very rarely granted. Rus
sia finds II 1udicious TO prevent the of
foreigners 10 the dominions OF several of the
rulers Of Central Asia subject to her suzerainty.
and likewise devises effective means OF closing
that particular half Of Persia which she re-
CARDS as her sphere to all foreigners whom she
has not provided with special permits
Almost within sight OF Europe, only q few
hours sail from Sicily. lies that land OF mystery
known as Tripol, in Barbary, in order to dis
tinguish it from the Syrian town OF TripoH
Yet in spite of Its proximity to civilization. 1t is
almost strictly barred 10 the foreigner as Tt
bet Boats and vessels arriving at Tripou sre
forced to land at q quay. at ths further end OF
which big and ominous looking gate gives ac-
cess 20 the essentially Oriental city and to the
country beyond. Before the foreigner is al
lowed TO pass through this gate he himself and
bis papers a-s subjected 10 q Jar from friendly