§ CAVTAIN NORTONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the General in command of the Tibet escort is now about 200 miles away in the Chumbi Valley and the Political Agent nearly 300 miles away on the Indian frontier; and if he can say under these circumstances who is to carry on negotiations with the Tibetan authorities.
§ MR. BRODRICKIt is the case that Colonel Younghusband left Gyangtse to consult with General Macdonald and to confer with the Bhutanese authorities who are in communication with the Dalai Lama at Lhasa. They are now both on their way back to Gyangtse. During Colonel Younghusband's temporary absence, Mr. Wilton, Assistant to the Commissioner, and Captain O'Connor, Secretary to the Commissoner, have remained at Gyangtse. They are in a position to deal with any communication that may be received from the Tibetan authorities.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he can state what relief, if any, is being sent to the 700 men now besieged at Gyangtse, in Tibet; and, seeing that 20,000 animals and men are now required to keep open the lines of communication, can he say approximately what amount of additional transport will be required when the rainy season begins this month.
§ MR. BRODRICKAs I stated on the 31st May in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for West Denbighshire,† the Government of India have taken steps to send forward such reinforcements as it considers necessary for the safety of the Mission. These steps include the provision of transport. The reinforcements are far advanced towards Gyangtse.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONThe right hon. Gentleman does not say what the reinforcements are, nor what amount of extra transport will be required.
§ MR. BRODRICKI think it better I should not do so in this House.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he can say whether the Commander-in-Chief in India was consulted with reference to the escort sent to accompany the Mission to Tibet and gave his approval.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe Answer is in the affirmative.
§ † See (4) Debates, cxxxv., 435.
483§ MR. LAMBERT (Devonshire, South Molton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India when the ultimatum sent to Lhasa expired; whether any arrangements have been made with Russia as to the advance to Lhasa; and when any forward movement will be made by the force now at Gyangtse.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe 25th June has been approved by His Majesty's Government as the date on which the Mission is to be authorised to proceed to Lhasa, if by then the Tibetan Government has not sent a competent negotiator with the Amban to Gyangtse; and the Mission will act on these instructions if the Tibetans fail to comply with our request. The Russian Government has been informed of the intentions and policy of His Majesty's Government.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork County, N.)Before this expedition proceeds further will the sanction of the suzerain Power, China, be obtained?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe suzerain Power has been kept informed of our operations.
§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)When will the Government be able to lay before Parliament the communications which have passed between them and the Russian Government on the subject?
§ MR. BRODRICKI do not think that is a subject on which to lay Papers—at least, at the present time—but the Foreign Minister has, throughout, kept the Russian Ambassador fully informed of what this Government are doing.