Strength. And it must be borne in mind that such a series of incredible events cannot be supposed to be isolated. Russia cannot issue from the Himalayan passes except when war shall wrap the world around. And I say, if she should, the diversion of strength necessary to produce even the wretched tragedy in which her effort must end, would be a play for England's benefit ; worse than futile, as all madhouse work, in the end, must be, when in contest with sane purpose.
But let us now suppose that possession of Tibet (for nothing less than possession consists with the efficacy of Clause IX. of the Younghusband treaty) is deemed necessary as against mere intrigue by Russian agents. That it may be anything more than child's play, this intrigue must bear fruit of action, eventually of war or threat of war, against British power. To do this, its effects must leap the Himalayas, those great barriers which now are made higher than nature would have them, by the fears of the Tibetans. The, intrigue, then, must be effective to reverse their policy of isolation—against which the British complain ; it must cause the Goorkhas, now shut out from Tibet, to take up arms against the Indian Empire, in alliance with —how ludicrous it all is !—in alliance with the poor creatures whom the British word of command has just shot down as one would kill sheep in a crowded fold.
And these who are to set the Goorkhas on fire are not of their creed or of their blood, nor of the creed or blood of any of the great races of India. By the adoption of a religion which India rejected, Tibet
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