CURZON’S ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH BRITISH (RULE) HOLD OVER TIBET

As early as 1774-75 Warren Hastings had sent George Bogle as the Company’s envoy into Tibet to develop trade relations with that country. A second envoy was sent in 1783 for the same purpose. The priestly hierarchy of Tibet joined by the Chinese Resident there foiled all such attempts. In 1886, the consent of the Chinese, who claimed suzerainty over Tibet, was obtained for the dispatch of a mission, but the plan fell through. The Tibetan-Sikkim dispute over common boundaries brought matters to the point of hostilities. A Sino-British Convention of 1890 demarcated the boundaries; it also considered questions pertaining to trade between India and Tibet which took the shape of a definite agreement by 1893. However, no actual trade resulted from this agreement for the Tibetans refused to accept this convention and China which claimed suzerainty over Tibet could not enforce it.

At the time of Curzon’s arrival in India the relations with Tibet had reached the point of deadlock. The Chinese suzerainty over Tibet was ineffective. The Viceroys letters to the Dalai Lama were returned unopened. Above all, the Russian influence at Lhasa was increased and alarmed Curzon. A Russian national, Dorjieff had won the confidence of the Dalai Lama and brought to Tibet Russian arms and ammunitions.

Curzon who had tried to forestall Russian influence towards the Northwest in Afghanistan and Persia could not remain indifferent to the Russian advances in Tibet. Rumors were also afoot about a secret Sino-Russian agreement for establishment of a Russian protectorate over Tibet. The protests of the Russian ambassador in London against the contemplated dispatch of a special mission to Tibet by the Government of India lent further suspicion to Russia’s designs in that quarter.

In 1903, with the permission of Home authorities, Curzon sent Colonel Younghusband with a small Gorkha contingent on a special mission to Tibet to ‘oblige (the) Tibetans to come to an agreement’. The Tibetans refused to negotiate and offered nonviolent resistance. Younghusband pushed his way reaching Gyantse on April 11 and Lhasa on 3 August 1904. The Dalai Lama fled away from the capital leaving the charge of administration in the hands of senior officials. Younghusband dictated terms on 7 September 1904 which provided that Tibet would pay an indemnity of Rs. 75 lakhs at the rate of one lakh rupees per annum. As a security for the payment, the Indian government was to occupy the Chumbi Valley (territory between Bhutan and Sikkim) for 75 years. Provision was also made for opening trade marts at Yatung, Gyantse and Gartok. The Tibetans were also to respect the frontiers of Sikkim. Further clauses provided that Tibet would not grant any concessions for railways, roads, telegraphs, etc., to any foreign state, but give Great Britain some control over the foreign affairs of Tibet.

Mr. Brodick, the Secretary of State, charged the Government of India with disregard for his instructions in that the huge indemnity demanded was ‘in defiance of his express instructions’, or occupation of the Chumbi Valley for 75 years ‘as disobedience of orders’. Meantime, Lord Lansdowne gave assurances to Russia that no occupation or protectorate or even interference in the internal affairs of Tibet was intended. The Government of India defended the position of Younghusband but admitted ‘an error of judgment’ on its part. On the insistence of the Secretary of State and true to the pledge given to Russia the treaty was revised reducing the indemnity from Rs. 75 lakhs to Rs 25 lakhs and providing for the evacuation of the Chumbi Valley after three years. The valley was actually evacuated in Jan 1908.

Critics of Curzon’s policy hold that the Younghusband mission just gratified the imperialist tendencies of the Viceroy and that no permanent results followed. Only China gained out of the whole affair because the Anglo Russian Convention of 1907 provided that the two great powers would not negotiate with Tibet except through the intermediary of the Chinese Government. It must however be said that Curzon’s vigorous and determined approach counteracted all Russian schemes in Tibet – a great concern of the Viceroy.