India and Tibet : vol.1 / Page 287 (Color Image)

0287	India and Tibet : vol.1

LETTER FROM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 235

since the time of Warren Hastings. It was addressed to

The all-wise Sahib sent by the. English Government to

settle affairs, from the Tibetan National Assembly." It

ran as follows :

Recently the Tongsa Penlop sent a letter to the

Dalai Lama, and also communicated with the two

delegates, but hitherto a treaty has not been effected.

The Sahibs say that they intend to come to Lhasa and to

see the Dalai Lama and to negotiate there, and that they

will there establish friendship. The letter which contains

the nine terms of the Convention has arrived here. This

is a matter of great importance, and therefore the

Chigyab Kenpo (Lord Chamberlain) has been sent to

Chisul. Now, our 'Tibetan religion is very precious, so

our Regent, officials, monks, and laymen have consulted

together. Formerly we made a National Convention

that none was to enter the country. So now, even if the

Sahibs should come to Lhasa and meet the Dalai Lama,

this will not advantage the cause of friendship. Should a

fresh cause of dispute arise, we greatly fear that a dis-

turbance, contrary to the interests of friendship, may

follow. So we beg of the Sahibs both now and in the

future to give the matter their earnest consideration, and

if they will negotiate with the delegates who are now here

all will be well. Please consider well all that has been

said, and do not press forward hastily to Lhasa.

" Dated the Wood Dragon year."

This letter was brought by a messenger, who said that

the new delegates were then at Chisul, on the opposite

bank of the river. And now again arose the question

whether we should make use of this new chance of

negotiating or should still press on to Lhasa. We had

in front of us the serious obstacle formed by the Brahma-

putra River, which, if we crossed it, would be a nasty

impediment to have in our rear. On the other hand, we

had negotiators here with more ample credentials than

any had had before, and we had the National Assembly

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