§ SIR H. COTTON (Nottingham, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Chinese Government have accorded their adhesion to the Tibetan agreement of September 7th, 1904; and, if so, whether he is in a position to announce the terms of this adhesion.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RUNCIMAN,) (For Sir EDWARD GREY) DewsburyThe Convention between Great Britain and China which was signed at Peking on April 27th secures the adhesion of China to the Convention established with Thibet in 1904. The text of the Convention has not yet been received, bat it will be laid before Parliament in due course. The Convention does not, however, alter the arrangements arrived at under the Convention with Thibet, as confirmed by the Government of India. It contains an engagement on our part not to encroach on Thibetan territory, nor to interfere in the government of Thibet, the Government of China undertaking not to allow any foreign State to interfere in the government or internal administration of Thibet. It also states that we do not seek for ourselves any of the concessions mentioned in Article IX. of the Convention with Thibet which were denied to any other State or to the subjects of any other State. The Convention with China does not alter the amount of the Thibetan indemnity in any way.