Evening star., 1949-11-03
Tibet May Be Ready
To Block Penetration
By Chinese Reds

| CHENGTU, SZechuan, Nov. 3
(CDN With the disintegration
of the Chinese national govern
ment, Tibet for all practical pur-
poses has become an independent
country.
Information available here on
the eastern borders of the Land
Of the Lamas" indicates that the
Tibetans have ousted most Chi
nese officials from their territory.
simultaneously, Tibetan troops
are reported concentrating along
the Gold Sand Observation-Disclosures
of the YangtZe-apparently in
preparation to reconquer some
areas of Eastern Tibet now under
Chinese administration.
Tibet's real rulers, the priests
and nobility, evidently are trying
to block penetration of their roof
of the world" by Chinese Com
munists who have occupied Gen.
trail Asia and threaten Szechuan
Province. The struggle now be-
gun may eventually involve India,
for which Tibet has considerable
strategic importance.
Tibetan Forces Increased.
When the Tibetans ordered the
ousting Of the Chinese govern
ment representative in Lhasa last
summer. repeatedly on charges of
Communist activity, it was the
signal for similar action against
lesser Chinese officials in North
eastern Tibet. Although the Ti-
betans acted against Nationalist
officials. their real objective ap-
parently was the elimination of
Chinese influence in those areas.
Traders coming out to Chinese
cities report that Tibetan armed
forces guarding the caravan routes
beyond the upper reaches of the
Yangtze have recently been in
creased from roughly 10000 to
10000 men. From his head
quarters at Chamdo-about 400
miles west of Chengtu-the Ti-
betan commander has used these
and other forces to gradually push
back Chinese frontier forces. To
date fighting has been limited to
small skirmishes. But the IT,
betans are prepared to engage
fairly large Chinese forces.
The disputed area is marked on
the maps as the Chinese province
of Sikang. But real Chinese au-
thority has rarely extended more
than approximately 200 air miles
west of the provincial capital of
Kangting in Eastern Sikang. The
entire province. except for the
eastern foothills and lowlands, isl
inhabited by Tibetans and scat
tered mountain tribes.
Other Concentrations Reported.
Even larger concentrations of
Tlbetan troops are reported far
ther north in Chinghai Province.
Chinese Communist capture of
Shining. the Chinghai provincial
capital, in early September appar-
emily was interpreted by the high
lama priests and mobiles in Lhasa
as direct threat to their power
over an estimated 1000, 900 IT.
betans. The mobilization of their
troops means that a major and
difficult military campaign would
be necessary if the Chinese Com
munists were to occupy Tibet now.
But the Chinese Communists
apparently are prepared to go |
slow" in the extension Of the new
Peiping governments authority I
over Tibet. Tibetan representa-
tives participated in the Commu-
nist-sponsored political consulta-
tive conference in Peiping last
month. With the capture of
Chinghai Province the Commu-
nists also brought under their con-
troll the two important Tibetan
lamasaries at Kumbum and La
brang.
However, the, Communists are
hardly prepared to fully absorb
Tibet now. Only a very few
Tibetan have been trained in COM
munism. Many Tibetans are re-
ported dissatisfied with their pres
ent rulers. But they are among
the most backward peoples in the
world. And a Communist military
conquest of Tibet without local
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