§ MR. LONSDALETo ask the Secretary of State for India what are the reasons which have induced the Government to refuse facilities to a small British scientific expedition to attempt the ascent of Mount Everest from the Tibetan side, in view of the fact that the party proposed merely to traverse a sparsely populated region, and would have their backs to Lhasa during the whole journey.
Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley). I hope the hon. Member will allow me to refer him to my rather long Answer to the Question put to me by the noble Earl the Member for South Kensington on the 5th July last, in which I stated at some length the reasons that have led His Majesty's Government to refuse facilities to travellers desiring to enter Tibet. These reasons are still in force and are 1280 applicable to the case of the proposed scientific expedition to Mount Everest.