§ EARL PERCY (Kensington, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has refused permission to the eminent Swedish traveller, Dr. Sven Hedin, who is now in India, to enter Tibet; if so, upon what grounds this refusal has bee a based; whether it is in accordance with the advice of the Government of India; and whether he will consider the advisability, in the interests of friendly relations with the Tibetan Government and people, of encouraging, subject to their consent, the occasional visits of well-qualified travellers to a country enjoying Treaty relations with the British Government.
§ MR. MORLEYDr. Sven Hedin has been refused permission to enter Tibet from British territory. It had been decided for reasons of policy that not even British parties could be allowed to explore Tibet; and what had been refused to British subjects could not be conceded to foreigners. It is true that the Government of India were in favour of encouraging the exploration of Tibet by qualified travellers. His Majesty's Government after full consideration decided otherwise, as they considered it advisable that Tibet should continue in that state of " isolation," the maintenance of which was stated by Mr. Brodrick in his despatch of December 2nd, 1904, to have been one of the main objects of His Majesty's late Government in their dealings with Tibet. A subsidiary reason was that there was no ground for thinking that the Tibetan Government—whose consent to explora- 224 tions is recognised by the noble Earl to be necessary—would be more disposed to grant passports now than they were in the summer of 1905, when they refused a request for one. I should add that the decision of His Majesty's Government in no way affects the right of access to the trade marts secured by the Lhasa Convention. I should also like to express the regret with which I was compelled recently to refuse applications from the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society for assistance in the work of exploring Tibet. The claims of scientific explorers obviously stand on a different footing from those of persons who wish to visit Tibet for amusement. Still, even geography must wait upon the requirements of political convenience.
§ EARL PERCYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it would be inconsistent with his desire to maintain the isolation of Tibet that the policy which he has announced to the House should, at all events, be modified in the case, not only of British subjects, but also of foreigners, where there is clear evidence that the Tibetan people have no objection whatever to their entrance to the country?
§ MR. MORLEYIf the noble Lord can establish his proposition that there is clear evidence that the Tibetans do not object, I shall be very glad to receive it: and if I do receive it, I will urge His Majesty's Government to change their policy.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)asked whether China, as the suzerain Power, alone had the right to give or refuse entrance to Tibet.
§ MR. MORLEYI do not think I can answer that question.