HC Deb 27 June 1905 vol 148 cc252-3
MR. LAMBERT

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Chinese Government have assented to the Tibetan Treaty; whether he can state what is the exact amount of the indemnity that is to be paid by the Tibetan people; and whether there are at present any British or Indian troops in occupation of Tibetan territory.

MR. BRODRICK

(1) The negotiations as to the adhesion of China to the Tibet Convention are still proceeding. (2) The indemnity to be paid by Tibet is twenty-five lakhs of rupees, as stated in the Declaration appended to the ratified copy of the Tibet Convention, published at page 93 of the last Tibet Blue-book. (3) I am not aware of any change in the number of troops which I informed the hon. Member on the 10th Aprill† were being maintained in Tibetan territory, viz., two and a half companies of native infantry in Chumbi, and an escort of fifty men with the trade agent at Gyangtse.

MR. LAMBERT

When are the negotiations with China likely to come to an end?

MR. BRODRICK

As the hon. Member knows, events do not travel very quickly in China.