§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether China, as the suzerain Power, has yet officially intimated its assent to the proposed armed expedition to Lhasa; and, if so, on what date and through what official channel was such assent conveyed to the Indian Government.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Earl PERCY,) Kensington, S.It has not been considered necessary to make a formal communication to the Chinese Government on the subject of the intended advance to Lhasa. The hon. Member will find at pages 146, 148, 218, 297, 299, 301, and 307 of the Blue-book the communications which have passed between the Foreign Office and the Chinese Government on the subject of the advance of Colonel Young-husband's Mission into Tibetan territory. Sir E. Satow has more recently been in communication with the Chinese Government on the same subject.
§ MR. FLYNNIs it not the fact that the Chinese Government, though they sanctioned an advance to the frontier, have not yet sanctioned the advance of an armed expedition to Lhasa?
§ EARL PERCYWe have not received any communication from the Chinese Government on that subject. The hon. Member will see from the Blue-book that the Chinese Government formally notified their assent to the holding of a conference at Yatung.
§ MR. FLYNNBut has the Chinese Government notified its official sanction to the advance of the expedition to Lhasa?
§ EARL PERCYI have said we have received no communication whatever on the subject.