HC Deb 27 April 1959 vol 604 cc80-1W
54. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what first-hand information is now available to him from persons recently come from Tibet; and if he is in a position to make a further statement about the position there, having regard to Her Majesty's then Government's statement of 6th November, 1950.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Hon. Members will, no doubt, have read the statement issued by the Dalai Lama at Tezpur on 18th April and will recall that he saidIn fact after the occupation of Tibet by the Chinese armies the Tibetan Government did not enjoy any measure of autonomy even in internal matters and the Chinese Government exercised full powers in Tibetan affairs. As hon. Members are aware, Her Majesty's Government have maintained that Tibet should be regarded as autonomous, and we therefore deplore any action by the Chinese Government which has in any way deprived the Tibetans of autonomy.