Secretary for India whether he could give the House any further information regarding the state of affairs in Tibet.
Mr. Montagu (Cambs, Chesterton, Min.)—The latest news from Lhasa, dated May 98, is to the effect that fighting continues incessantly, neither side showing any signs of capitulation All attempts at effecting a settlement have failed. The Chinese garrison in Tengyeling Monastery is stated to have three Maxims and, to be holding out well. The Chinese surrounded by the Tibetans, who are in occupation of five strongholds on the north of the city; the buildings in the south are held by the Chinese. The latter have exhausted their provisions and are said to be in great straits for food. Many houses have been burnt by both sides, and Lhasa is reported to be reduced to one-third of its former size. The Chinese are stated to have shelled the Potala Palace, but without doing serious damage. The Tibetans have—been besieging the Trapehi Barracks, which are occupied Twenty Chinese were killed in @ recent engagement; the Tibetan casualties are not known. According to recent report the Tibetans have expelled the Chinese garrison from Nyarong in Eastern Tibet, and have formally reoccupied the' district. Another report stated that the Tashi Lama has called out all available persons in the neighbourhood of Shigatse, having received instruotions from the National Aesembly at Lhasa to send troops now Ilat-r than June 10 to ce-operate again the Chinese. The Dalai Lama is atill at Kalimnong.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.