HC Deb 11 July 1904 vol 137 cc1203-4
MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India what is our precise position towards China in regard to Tibet; is Tibet an independent kingdom or is it a portion of the Chinese Empire; has the representative of China in Tibet full powers from his Government to enter into a treaty with us; and, if so, would this treaty be valid before being ratified by the Chinese Government in Pekin; or have we—assuming Tibet to be a dependency of China—obtained any assurance from the Chinese authorities that if we sign a treaty with Tibet such treaty would be binding on China.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildford

For information regarding the status of Tibet I must refer the hon. Member to the Blue-book. The negotiations will be conducted jointly with the Chinese Amban and the Tibetan repre- sentatives. The Chinese Government has been kept duly apprised of the action of His Majesty's Government in Tibet, and the Chinese Amban at Lhasa expressed to Colonel Younghusband, on his arrival at Gyangtse, his readiness to negotiate.

MR. LABOUCHERE

Are we at war with China or not?

MR. BRODRICK

I think that Question has been repeatedly answered. It does not arise on this Question so far as I can gather.