28th September.
"Tae lady protests too much" is a saying with which every English reader is familiar, and it is impossible not to feel that in the presen: instance there must be something of of the main objects of the mission, by the way—and by implication acknowledges China's anthoritiy.
Clause LI treats of the places which may be opened to trade, and can harm no-one, unless, by destruction of their monopoly, it touches the Lamas.
Clause III is equally innocent. It appoints a Tibetan as well as a British delegate to consider correct tions in the Treaty.
Clause IV deals with dues which are to be settled by mutual consent.
Clause V contains the first contentious matter. And here 1t may be noted in reference to alleged Chinese disapproval that Great Britain has been compelled to deal with Tibet direct, cither because China could not or would not do s> herself, She may accept either horn of the dilemma, but cannot escape one or the other, She, therefore, has no solid ground for objection. She knows how scrupulously Great Britain will safeguard her interests if treated with candour, As a matter of fact, the authority of China in Tibet ought now to stand higher than it, has done for many years past. This Clause (V) safeguards the trade vote fron? tax-stations, it requires improved roads, safe postal arrangements, ete.
Then comes the firsts bone of contention: "No other foreign nation shall be allowed to send any person, public or private, to Tibet to assist the Tibetans to manage any of their affairs." Now it is quite possible that, President Roosevelt or King Humbert is burning to do this very thing, and hence believes that either an American or an Italian should promptly be installed asthe right-hand man of the Dalai Lana for the purpose of instructing him in the most up-to-date methods of greasing prayer-wheels Here, then, 1s ground for formal protest. Bnt the world knows full well against whom this section is aimed, and we are already informed by Reuter that an understanding is being come to by he parties most concerned, This shutting out of oth-r foreign nations from railway, telegraph, or mining works is a new departure for Great Britain, and we should think has been inserted only to be abandoned when its. purpose has been served.
The remainder of the clause roves plainly that what Great the supererogatory in the chorus of britain is aiming at is to safe-disapproval which the meek and guard India on the one hand mild Tibetan Treaty has received at and China on the other, an object the hands of an unappreciative world. which cannot 'e very strongly con-It was expected at the outset that its innocence such as to ensure demne: l by nations knowing so well as most of them do how to look of er it a.speedy home amongst the diplo-themselves. matic achievements of past times.
But such was not the case, and we The indemnity is a flea-bite, not must try to discover th worthy serious consideration, Clause I we may assured repre-inoffensive. It refers to th. curry-sentatives at Chumbi for a period ing out of previous agreements—one! of three years or until the indemnity
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.