HC Deb 03 March 1904 vol 131 cc58-9
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare. E.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can state what are the instructions which have been given to Colonel Younghusband in regard to the Mission to Tibet; whether he can state what the expense of this Mission has been so far; and, whether it is intended to proceed by force in case the Government and people of Tibet should oppose the progress of the Mission.

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

The instructions given to Colonel Younghusband will be found at page 198 of the Blue-book. (2) I have received no accounts of the actual expenditure incurred, but the latest estimate of cost of the Mission to the end of the current financial year is £300,000. (3) The instructions to Colonel Younghusband are that he is not to take hostile action unless attacked, and I can make no statement on a question which has not yet arisen.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

asked whether all the instructions given to Colonel Younghusband were contained in the Blue-book, or whether any had been given to him since.

MR. BRODRICK

The instructions given to Colonel Younghusband are fully included in the Blue-book.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

Has Colonel Younghusband been provided with an Army Corps?

[No answer was returned.]

MR. FLYNN (Cork County, N.)

Has the right hon. Gentleman read page 210 of the said Blue-book?

[No reply was returned.]