TIBET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXII, Issue 13574, 21 October 1904, Page 5

TIBET.

TIBET'S INABILITY TO PAY AN INDEMNITY. United Press Association —By Elccirio Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October 19. The reference to Tibet, instead of being semi-officia-lly announced in London, says Reuters News Agency in an apparently inspired statement, -was based on information gathered in London. (The reference with which the foregoing message deals was: —"It is semi-officially stated in London that owing to the Tibetans' inability to pay an indemnity of 75 lakhs of rupees in three years, a proposal is now before the Government, and influentiaJly supported, that a lakh should be paid annually, and that Britain should hold the Chumbi Valley until the indebtedness was discharged.") (Received October 21, 1.7 a.m.) BOMBAY, October 20. General Macdonald'a last column is at Pha.ri snow-bound after crossing the Tang Pass, where the snow is now far worse. LONDON, October 20. The India, Office emphatically denies any intention to occupy the Chumbi Valley for 75 years, while, the Tibetans aro paying a million lakhs a year. The " Times " says that Britain is animated by a sincere desire to take Russia's susceptibilities! into account. There is no reason why, if the Tibetans act up to the spirit of the treaty the payment should not spread over a number of years without a corresponding extension of the period of occupation.