CHINA AND TIBET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15659, 13 July 1914, Page 7

CHINA AND TIBET.

BREACH OF THE| TREATY.

BRITAIN CONCERNED,

FUTURE ACTION POSSIBLE.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright

London, July 10. During the Foreign Office debate in the House of Commons to-day, Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, stated that despite the treaty with Britain making China's position in relation to Tibet secure, China had attempted to conquer Tibet and make it a province of China.

If she resorted to the same policy in the future, thus disturbing the Indian frontier, Britain would undertake to dispute the matter very seriously with China. BRITISH INTERVENTION. ~ The present position in regard to Tibet is the direct result of a British armed mission to that country in 1904, provoked by aggression on the Indian frontier. After intermittent fighting on the way the party reached the capital on August 3, tho Dalai Lama having fled prior to its arrival. There was some little delay in reaching a settlement, but finally all the immediate differences between Britain and Tibet were adjusted. It was also agreed that no foreign Power was to receive any concession in Tibet, territorial or mercantile, or to concern itself with the meht of the country. The adhesion of China to the treaty .was secured by an. agreement on April 27, 1906. ' ' ' In 1909, however, Chinese troops were sent to operate on the frontier against certain insurgent * lamas, whom they handled rather severelv. When tho Dalai Lama attempted to give orders that they should cease they entered his city and he fled to India. Chinese troops followed him to the frontier and he was deposed by Imperial decree. The British Government, in view of tho apparent intention of China to establish effective suzerainty in Tibet, drew the attention of the Government at Pekin to the necessity of observing its treaty obligations. Since that time the attitude of China towards the country has on several occasions rendered British intervention necessary.