Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/815

 CHINESE OUTER TERRITORIES

763

and from Simla to Gartok is almost due east. Tibet was as follows : —

The trade between India and

-

1816-17

1917-1$

1918-19

1P1S-20

Imports into India ' Exports to Titet »

£ 331,079 144.749

430,000 151,000

£

460,000 150,000

M

U8, MO

214.000

1 Mainly

raw wool.


 * Largely

ctton piece goods.

For the removal of hindrances to the Indian trad* a treaty was made with China (as suzerain of Tibet) in 18B0, supplemented by a second treaty in 1893, but the hindrance? still remained. Consequently, in 1904, the Indian Government sent a mission with an e.scort to arrange matters directly with the Tibetan Government. The mission met with a good deal of armed opposition, but at length, on September 7, a convention was executed at Lhasa. The convention provides for the re-erection of boundary stones (alluding to former pastoral disputes) on the Sikkim frontier ; for marts at Yatung, Gyangtze. and Gartok for Tibetan and British merchants : for the demolition of forts on the trade routes ; for a Tibetan commissioner to confer with British officials for the alteration of the objectionable features of the treaty of 1893 ; for the settlement of an equitable customs tariff ; for the repair of the passes and the appointment of Tibetan and British officials at the trade marts. China, as the suzerain power of Tibet, paid an indemnity of 2,500,000 rupees (166,666?.). and the evacuation of the Chumbi valley by the British began in February, 1908. Further, no Tibetan territory may be sold, leased or mortgaged to any foreign Power, nor may Tibetan affairs, or Tibetan public works, be subject to foreign management or interference without the consent of the British. The adhesion of China to this convention was secured by an agreement signed at Peking on April 27, 1906. Under the Convention of August 31, 1907, Great Britain and Russia agree not to enter into negotiation with Tibet except through the Chinese Government, nor to send representatives to Lhasa. But this engagement does not affect the provisions of the British-Tibetan convention of September 7, 1904, ratified by China in 1906. Negotiations were begun at Simla in Sept. 1907, for the conclusion of Tra<le Regulations between India and Tibet, and were brought to a satisfactory conclusion in April. 1908.

The Revolution in China in 1911 was not without its effect on the Tibetans, who expelled the Chinese garrison. Subsequently an expedition was dispatched from Szechuan and Yunnan, but Great Britain protested and caused its withdrawal. In August, 1912, the British Minister in Peking presented a memorandum to the Chinese Government outlining the attitude of the British Government towards the Tibetan question. It held that the re-establishment of Chinese authority would constitute a violation of the Anglo-Chinese Treaty of 1906. Chinese suzerainty in regard to Tibet was recognised, but Great Britain could not consent to the assertion of Chinese sovereignty over a state enjoying independent treaty relations with her. Ultimately a Tripartite Conference was opened at Simla in October, 1913. The Tibetan proposals included the independence of Tibet, the repudiation of the Anglo-Chinese Convention of 1906, and boundary rectifications ; China insisted upon Tibet being an integral of Chinese territory, China engaging not to convert Tibet into a province, and asking Britain to give an undertaking not to annex Tibet, nor any portion of it. Britain suggested the creation of an Inner and Outer Tibet, the former being autonomous, and the latter under Chinese control. China declined to accept this arrangement,