TIBET AND THE INDIAN FRONTIER.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1904, Page 6

TIBET AND THE INDIAN FRONTIER.

— « RUSSIA IN INDIA AND CHINA. COLONIAL DEFENCE, INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL SIR ROBERT LOW. General Sir Robert CunlitTo Low, vi.C.B., who has just completed live years' command of the Forces in Bombay (India), and who arrived in Wellington this week on a holiday visit to Now Zealand, granted an interview to a member of tho Post staff this morning, and gavo SOnio very inteiesting and instructive particulars concerning questions of moment in tho Far East. Speaking of Colonel expedition into Tibet, Sir Robert, who, it will bo remembered, commanded the Chitral campaign and knows something of Indian frontier life— said it "was a mistake to supposo that the expedition had been undertaken with tho object of keeping tho Russians out of the country. It was a diplomatic mission, and Colonel Younghusband is a political, not h military, agent. Sir Robert thought that the military leader of tho expedition would probably; bo Colonel Macdonold, of the Engineers. Fourteen years ago, on tho conclusion of tho Sikkim expedition, Tibet catered into certain trade agreements with Britain through the Indian Government. Those agreements have never been carried out satisfactorily, and during tho post two years Tibet has practically refused to observe them at all. The Tibetans have also aggravated tho position by ill-treating British subjects :>n the border by raids and pillage when traders from India, have sought to entor , Tibet according to tho terms of tho agreement. No doubfc this conduct was partly the result of tho underground work of Russian, agents. Two years ago Russia sent what was called a scientific mission into Tibet. Now, Russian missions of thia kind aro always political in character, and its member* might be expected to magnify tho power of Russia, and do their beat to minimi.se Britain's influence and power. Tho Tibetan haa n. wonderful conceit of himself. Bo is pnssionutely parochial and desirous of keeping his country apnrb from tho outside world, and consequently tho insidious Russian would make tho native- of Tibet feel a bigger man tl.tiii over in his own estimation, though ho is n poor soldier, as \ea» proved in the Sikkim affair, and is poorly armed. " But," interrupted tho pressman, " tho cable says tho Tibetan has an up-to-date arm!" .'." Oiu.l donVbeliovo tho cables," was tho General's reply. Continuing, Sir Robert said tho object of the present expedition was to insist upon tho. terms of tho agreement being carried out, and on Jair treatment being shown to our subjects on tho border. Los'sa, the capital of Tibet, could only bo visited by Europeans in disguise hitherto, and tho Indian Government's agents, who had made reports, had entered tho country disguised. The result 'of tho expedition, which would not meet with serious opposition after some shots Ifiul been exchanged, would probably bo, the .establishment of a British Resident in Lassa, and tho opening of the coiu.try to trade. The Indian Government would not object to Russia trading with Tibet, from her side of tho mountain ranges any more than it interferes with her trading with Afghanistan. Tibet is «. miserably poor country, and if such a policy were possiblo the Government would leave the country severely alone. Bat 'that is impossible, as Tibet extends along tho north-eastern boundaries of India, and tho Government had to protect U« subjects. Tibet is veVy difficult of access, abounding in miowclad mountains, having a small and scattered population, and no supplies to speak of within its borders. Ihe approach- from the Russian BKso is jusfc as difficult as from India.' TheTo is no likelihood of England and Russia quarrelling about Tibet. If the comitry was opened to trade a big business might bo dono by the Assam and Darjeeling growers of tea; Tho Tibetans aro simple-living people, governed by the priesthood, to which every first-born son ir tho land is consecrated. Borax and precious stones come from tho moun* tains of Tibet. India's frontiers need constant watching, said tho General. There is no knowing the moment trouble may come out of the north-west, for instance, where there are four turbulent tribes, including the Afridis, and with Afghanistan behind tho quartet. How <lo we stand to-day with Afghanistan? Well, replied the General, we are just as friendly as ever. Russia ■eomed to have abandoned Afghanistan as a sphcro of agitation and influence, and nowadays wa-s much more active on tho Persian border. Persia is friendly with Britain, and we had our political agents residing in the country. Russia's influence, however, waa supremo in northern Persia, whilst ours was greatest in the Mouth. "It was the southern sphere that Russia was striving for now, becauso that way lay the soa. ,Sir Robert did not think war would ensuo between Russia and Japan. Russia's greatest trouble iras how to como out of tho affair without loos of prestige. Ho had a sincere hope that thero would not be war. There were great possibilities if fighting took place. If the Russians proved victorious in tho jßghting England might have- to "look in, whilst if Japan proved tho victor it would give a tremendous fillip to the coloured races, which wus a possibility for Australians and New Zealanders to consider. The General understood there were 40,000 nblo-bodied men in New Zealand who could carry a rifle if called upon to defend their country. Tho important question was, could the colony arm all its possiblo defenders? The same ;utjstion was of importance to Afiunralia. t Wus repugnant to tho British idea to have compulsory militarism, but our youth should ba trained as possible flefmiders whilst attending school. Tho * Britisher readily adapted himself to the tis« of arms, and this iiuturul ability, should, bo taken advantage of in a voluntary spirit. Should tho colony havo a roajifail defence system? Certainly, for we >«we not far distant from China and Japan. We should, of course, look to tho British Navy as our most effective defence on the waters. tt would bo far too expensive to go in for a colonial navy apart from thai of tho Old Country. India's internal conditions were touched upon. Sir Robert .«mid tho country had almost recovered from -the effect* of the great drought and famine. Great havoc had been worked amongst cattle, but the Government was helping the farmers to restock, and bulls were loaned to Settlers for breeding purposes. A great deal of land was being reclaimwl and settled upon in tho Punjaub by means of n system of canals. Old soldiers from the native army and civilians were taking up tho sections. A specialty of breeding hor»e» was being encouraged by the Indian Government. The great mass of the people of India were passive towards the governing powers, -but many of the native papers were seditious in tone. This was one of tho results of the education system, which partly educated natives, who lost tho taste of their fathers for trade, and wanted to becomo Civil Servants in a service which had not room for a tithe of the tnrn-out of the educational institutes. These- young men, failing to get the billets they desired, became stirrers up of strife and men with grievances. What policy did tho Government assume towards the seditious press? Oh. simply left it to smoke out the fires, and • extended the privilege*! of the British ■press! After ,&!!', the discontented were Only a small section -of a very large community. All arms in India wero resis- ;

tered and held under licenao only. Even when an Afghan came over tho border on business, ho had to leave his rifle with tho authorities until ho returned. The Government was introducing technical education into the colleges, and it was hoped this would help to overcome the problem of thu youn^' man who had a distaste for trade under present conditions. A remarkable development of modern India wus tho rise of n volunteer force of European civilians. To-day India had a force of S'J.iWU volunteers outside the in my. In tho year of the mutiny theie h'ciu no volnntoers, and only 39,*000 tioops distributed over the whole of India. After spending a month touring New Zealand, Sir Robert hopes to revisit Tasmania, Adhere ho spent a month prior to coming on to our colony. Visits to Victoria and New South Wales follow, and then he goe*s llpme via Canada, reaching London about May.