IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| India and Tibet : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
82 NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUSSIA
Some delay occurred in getting a reply from the
Russian Government, but on April 8, 1903, the Russian
Ambassador informed Lord Lansdowne* that he could
assure him . officially that there was no convention about
Tibet, either with Tibet itself, or with China, or with any-
one else ; nor had the Russian Government any agents in
that country, or any intention of sending any agents or
missions there. But, although the Russian Government
had no designs whatever about 'Tibet, they could not
remain indifferent to any serious disturbance of the status
quo in that country. Such a disturbance might render it
necessary for them to safeguard their interests in Asia ;
not that even in that case they would desire to interfere
in the affairs of Tibet, as their policy ` ne viserait le
Tibet en aucun cas,' but they might be obliged to take
measures elsewhere. They regarded Tibet as forming
part of the Chinese Empire, in the integrity of which they
took an interest."
Count Benckendorff went on to say that he hoped that
there was no question of any action on our part in regard
to 'Tibet which might have the effect of raising questions
of this kind, and Lord Lansdowne told him that we had
no idea of annexing the country, but he was well aware
that it immediately adjoined our frontier, that we had
treaties with the Tibetans, and a right to trade facilities.
If these were denied us, and if the 'Tibetans did not fulfil
their treaty obligations, it would be absolutely necessary
that we should insist upon our rights. In cases of this
kind, where an uncivilized country adjoined the posses-
sions of a civilized Power, it was inevitable that the
latter should exercise a certain amount of local pre-
dominance. Such a predominance belonged to us in
Tibet. But it did not follow from this that we had any
designs upon the independence of the country.
With these very definite assurances from Russia, it
might well be asked why we should still have desired to
take pronounced measures in Tibet. Anxiety in regard
to Russian action in 'Tibet was the main reason why the
Government of India sought to take action in Tibet.
* Blue-book, p. 187.
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