THE ADVANCE IN THIBET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12935, 30 March 1904, Page 2

THE ADVANCE IN THIBET.

RUSSIAN THREATS TO BRITAIN'. (Fnost Ocn Own GonREsro.NDF.NT.) LONDON, February 12. A remarkable Stato paper ivilh reference to the present, expedition to Tliibo-t lias just boon presented to Parliament. It throws a sinister on Russian methods, and rovenls a disposition on tho part of Hu.-j-iii to imiulsjc in dirctfc moiiiiiw to this roantry which had to bo promptly unit decisively re.semed. Tl 10 trouble W" r ;an with tho arrival of two Thibetan nii.-.sions, which weivi lee, ivee! iiy the Czar in ISJUQ and liWl, and which, Count Liiinsdoi'lf explained, "were ehietly ci.nc.tiut with riiatiem of religion, and liael no jjoiuicul or diplomatic obje-ct or character." lint our Minister at Vuiiux, who was i!«julji!< i-H inspired by China, the .suzerain of Tuibet, te.tilh d t..<> Government of a current report, that Russia de-sired to China's intcgiitv in exolianno for 'ihikl. Tim Foreign Olliw tlide-upou gave a serious warning lo China, Pud (lie Indian Government pres-cd tho Thibetans in nejwti.ito t,ii-ir Iniri-prouiised treaty. Tliih't Uvik }/f> /C'lioi* of th:se overture*, but ivluined the I'.ini-li dispatches unopened, iiy this time R'.Siia was pieparin;,; a diplomatic counter-move. Mho intimated thai if a military movement fnun India upon 'Ihibet, took phuo it might Ik.* necessary to protect itie.si.m iut(,r,.<-.ts in Thibet. Lord Laiisdowne replied that ho could not euieeive that it wa; nocessary lor Russia to evince: any interei t at all. An;! ho told (lie Russian ambassador that, should his Government display any activity in Thibet, England would bo obliged to reply by a of activity not only equivalent to but cxec(<iing that made by Russia. If Russia sent a minion Kngland would do the same, but i:i gioator strength. Later the ambassador informed Lord Lansdowuo that, though Russia had no ilc.si«ns upon Thibet, shn could not remain indifferent to any werious disturbance of the

" status <]uo." She regarded Thibet as part of tli" Chinoso Empire, in the ink-j?-rity of which she took an interest. Lord Lansdowno dor-s not swin to havo lioen niuoh impressed by this bluff, for after (.'oloncl Yoitnitliusliaiiil''? oxpt-ditimt had started with iho cordial approval of tho Chinese Government, and whon liutsia made a protest against it, 1h« Foroiffn Su'retary roplird llat it "was beyond mea-.uro strange- that profits should bo made by tlm (Ir.voi'imient i.f a Power which had all over tho world never h<sitatcd to encroach upon its neighlfiurs whr n circum-stajir-rrt sebmed to reijuire it. If Ruida had a right to complain of t-higland seeking reparation, by inlo Thibetan territory, what hind of la'i(,'ua;;o should we not lie entitled to use in to Russian encroachmenti in Manolmii.'i, Turkestan, and IVrsia?" This is plain s;io,il;i!i;!. Jiut tl.-'ie is more iwhin I than ?• :l:ov.n in this oom.spoml"iice. flolonel ti'io'/raplied from bis camp in Thitiet last Dceenibi'r:—" Information has lic.n received from several independent- sources that t'-o Thibfl'ius are' on support, and that Russian avm? have entered 'J'hibet. It may be a> Mimed that Dorjiff!', who, two or three yars a to, went on a :pi ;, ,ion to the Czar fnin the TJulai Lama, is at or: se-y. J . at Lhassa. il,f,.'. a pt'omis» of Rncsian ntnnrrt b»» |y ,r n given to him. and that tin- Thibetans believe in the trn'.li of this proinis-."