Nepalese Concern About Tibet Frontier Conditions

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29228, 11 June 1960, Page 15

Nepalese Concern About Tibet Frontier Conditions

Hundreds of Tibetan refugees are crossing the border of Tibet into Nepal. and considerable anxiety felt by the Nepalese about c#iditions on the frontier, according to Mr G. Harrow, who recentiyjreturned to Christchurch with h|s wife from a month’s visit to Nepal. Mr Harrow was previously in Nepal with Sir Edmund ftillary’s Makalu expedition ini 1954. . He sdri that many of the highland villages had been invaded by Tietan refugees. Whole families were crossing the border with Heir tents, their possessions and their yaks. In many places food far the animals was scarce and the people had resorted to killing them. Nepalese soldiere were stationed along tnany parts of the border. Everest Conquest Coianenting on the recent report jhat a Chinese expedition had conquered Mount Everest, Mr Harrow said that although he was in the area at the time, and news travelled very fast, in spite of the ragged country and non-exis-tent Communications, he did not know whether the report was true. He .said that while he was in Nepal, reports were received that 40 nfator lorries helped to take equitfnent for the Chinese party, and tat the Chinese expedition had Med “a lot of oxygen.” “There is only one place from where all the numerous ridges that span out from Everest can be seen, and that is the summit. Untiluie photographs are published I can not give an opinion on -Whether the Chinese conquered the peak.” Mr Harrow said that he had considerable difficulty in getting a to enter Nepal. “The best we gpuld do was to get a tem-

porary visa into the capital, Katmandu, and hope for a more permanent one when we got there,” he said. Long negotiations were required before the visa was granted, and then only on condition that his party did not search for yeti. A liaison officer from the Nepalese Foreign Department accompanied the party. The trip was more of a pleasure visit than an expedition said Mr Harrow. 160 Miles on Foot The party—of nine coolies, and I a Sherpa guide with Mr Harrow j and his wife —travelled more than 160 miles by foot. The 33 days in' the area were spent in enjoying the beauty of the countryside, climbing, and enjoying the company of the native peoples, he said. Erosion had become a serious problem in Nepal since his visit in 1954. Mr Harrow sajd. The people were indiscriminately cut- i ting down the bush for firewood; and burning off to clear space for. cultivation. Erosion and land slides were inevitable without the covering bush to prevent run-off. One landslide had formed a new lake above the town of Thosi, and there was considerable danger of the lake cutting through its banks and overflowing into the town. “If you see in the newspapers that the town of Thosi has been inundated, you will know what the trouble was,” he said. With squalid conditions through-, out the country, disease was rife, said Mr Harrow. Eye disease caused by heat and dust was common. Cholera deaths were constantly being reported, and goitre from an acute iodine deficiency was very common. Few drugs were avilable in the country and doctors were rare, he said. j