§ SIR H. COTTON (Nottingham, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the final arrangement come to between the Government of India and the Tibetan authorities in September, 1904, was that the Tibetan Government should pay to the Government of India an indemnity of Rs. 25,00,000 payable by annual instalments of Rs. 1,00,00, the first instalment being payable on January 1st, 1906; whether this instalment has been paid; and, if not, whether it is proposed to allow payment to lapse or to take any measures to enforce payment.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. JOHN MORLEY,) Montrose BurghsThe indemnity payable by Tibet is as stated. The first instalment of one lakh became due on January 1st last. Communications as to the payment are now proceeding between the Government of India and a Tibetan official who has been instructed by the Lhasa Government to arrange for the payment.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)asked whether the House was to understand that the Tibetan Government had to pay an indemnity of Rs. 10,000,000 rupees a year for being invaded.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYI can only go by the Convention.
§ SIR H. COTTONAre we to understand that no part of the indemnity has been paid?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYProceedings are going on, as I have said, at Calcutta, between the officials of the Government of India and the Tibetan Government.
§ MR. J. WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)The last part of the Question is the most important. Is it proposed to use any force to compel payment if the Tibetan Government refuses to pay?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYThat Question the Government will consider when occasion arises.