CHINESE ADVANCE TOWARDS INDIA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143766, 15 April 1912, Page 3

CHINESE ADVANCE TOWARDS INDIA.

LORD CURZON ON “A NEW PHENOMENON.” Speaking at a gathering of the Royal Geographical Society, Lord Curaon said that the most remarkable political and geographical fact of the present day was the degree to which in Asia, and much more in Africa, frontiers were growing together. No Man's 1 Land was rapidly disappearing. Frontiers which a few yeats ago were fluctuating or traditional or non-existent were becoming fixed and regular. Probably within the lifetime of most of us there would scarcely be a habitable portion of the globe over wfiich the flag of some great Power dim not fly. Hitherto in Asia the two great Powers with frontiers in which much interest lay had beeh Great Britain and Russia. Latterly, and for the first time, China had become a growing and ovon aggressive Power upon our Indian frontiers. This was, broadly speaking, a new phenomenon, and it was one which wo should regard with a Watchful though not a jealous eye. Not long ago over the whole of this Eastern and North-Eastern territory there was a belt of potty States and wild tribes. These to a large extent still existed, but they were becoming contracted, and would in course of time completely disappear. The two most, conspicuous scenes of Chinese advance were Tibet and Burmese China.

Ho hoped that at no time would there be any misunderstanding that Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan were to remain within our sphere of influence, and that no other Power would iso allowed to tamper with them in any way - whatever.

He ventured to lay down the proposition that it would bo wise for the Government to fix definite frontiers in these regions and that as a necessary corollary when fixed they should not bo allowed to be encroached upon.' There was no reason why there should be any quarrel between us and the Chinese Government. There were no interests at ’stake to lead us to quarrel, and the surest way to avoid any cause of misunderstanding was to show firmness and determination in fixing the frontier and not allowing it to be infringed.