Page:With the Russians in Mongolia.djvu/35

 in Mongolia. Tibet and Mongolia are very closely allied. Their religion is identical. Their population in both cases consists of fanatical followers of their respective spiritual leaders, the "Dalai Lama" of Tibet, the "Hu-tuk-tu" of Mongolia, the former being the spiritual head of the faith of both countries. Lamas from Lhasa are constantly visiting Urga, and many Mongol Lamas receive their education in Lhasa. The dominating influence in either Mongolia or Tibet means the eventual dominating influence in both these countries. Russia is obtaining this influence in Mongolia. Great Britain might have obtained the same rights over Tibet as Russia has obtained over Mongolia, and Russian Diplomats quite expected Great Britain to take this action.

In December 1912, Agban Dordjief, a Buriat, the accredited representative of the Dalai Lama of Tibet, who was on his way to St. Petersburg, visited Urga to discuss with the Mongolian Hu-tuk-tu religious questions of import to both countries. He took the opportunity of informing the Mongols that the Dalai Lama had returned to Lhasa under British protection, and was inclined in future to seek the protection of both Great Britain and Russia. He therefore pro-