Preface V
military societies, but also from agricultural societies of the kind familiar to us in Europe and America. Such a view of the matter, when properly worked out in detail of proof and conclusion, seems to me to contain the key to certain historical problems of the first importance. In the following pages it has not been possible to do much more than to state the theme; I hope to give it full treatment at a later date. Meanwhile, I shall be gratified if the interest of some inquiring and critical minds should be awakened by the suggestions now presented.
In Western and Eastern Turkestan, respectively, the traveller may observe, and compare, Russian and Chinese colonial administration. Most interesting are the indications thus given of the characteristics of two peoples now challenging the world's
closest attention. Incidentally, one is of course
drawn to consider the general relation of Europe to Asia. I trust that if any of my readers have been uneasy as to the Yellow Peril, these pages may quiet some fears and awaken some charities.
The recent British attack upon Tibet is of much more moment, I believe, than would be inferred from the isolated situation and relative weakness of the Tibetan people. Although at this writing the withdrawal of all British representation from Tibet may seem to leave matters almost in statu quo ante, it can scarcely be presumed that so considerable an effort will be permanently left without result. The whole affair seems to have been largely due to one man—the late Viceroy, Lord Curzon. London influences seem never to have gone heartily into this lamentable excursion, and the treaty dictated by
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