HC Deb 11 June 1912 vol 39 cc675-6
11. Sir J. D. REES

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he could give the House any further informamation regarding the state of affairs in Tibet?

Mr. MONTAGU

The latest news from Lhasa, dated the 28th May, is to the effect that fighting continues incessantly, neither side showing any signs of capitulation. All attempts at effecting a settlement have failed. The Chinese garrison in Tengye-ling monastery is stated to have three maxims and to be holding out well. The Chinese are surrounded by the Tibetans, who are in occupation of five strongholds on the north of the city; the buildings in the south are held by the Chinese. The latter have exhausted their provisions and are said to be in great straits for food. Many houses have been burnt by both sides, and Lhasa is reported to be reduced to one-third of its former size. The Chinese are stated to have shelled the Potala Palace, but without doing serious damage. The Tibetans have been besieging the Trapehi barracks, which are occupied by about sixty Chinese troops. Twenty Chinese were killed in a recent engagement; the Tibetan casualties are not known. According to a recent report the Tibetans have expelled the Chinese garrison from Nyarong, in Eastern Tibet, and have formally reoccupied the district. Another report states that the Tashi Lama has called out all available persons in the neighbourhood of Shigatse, having received instructions from the National Assembly at Lhasa to send troops not later than the 10th June to co-operate against the Chinese. The Dalai Lama is still at Kalimpong.