Memorandum No.3(7)-L/50 from the Officer in Charge, Indian Mission, Lhasa, to the Political Officer in Sikkim, Gangtok

From:- The Officer in Charge, Indian Mission, Lhasa

P.O. Gyantse, Tibet.

To:- The Political Officer in Sikkim, Gangtok.

Memorandum No.3(7)-L/50

Dated Lhasa, Tibet, the 15th January 1950.

I. EXTERNAL RELATIONS

A. Relations between Tibet and India.

1. The Tibetan Government decided upon the personnel of the missions to be sent U.S.A, U.K. and Nepal, to canvass sympathy and support for Tibetan independence. Each of these deputations is to consist of one monk and one lay official as heads, two assistants (also monk and lay officials) and one interpreter. The mission for China, which is to contact the Peking Government only through correspondence from places like Rangoon, Singapore and Hongkong is to include a learned abbot of Drepung who could deal authoritatively with religious questions. No separate mission is to be sent to India, where the newly appointed representatives of the Tibetan Government at Kalimpong will act as a mission. Some members of the missions to U.K. and U.S.A. have already left Lhasa, others will follow in a day or two. They are to visit Delhi first before proceeding to their destinations.

2. In the meanwhile, the Government of India who gave their recognition to the Peking Government at the end of last year have sent their considered reply to the requests made by the Tibetan Government concerning their status as well as supplies of arms and ammunition, and help in military training. They advised the Tibetan Government to avoid all bellicose language and action against the newly established Peking Government and promised to support Tibetan autonomy, based on the 1914 Convention, through diplomatic negotiations with China, and also to supply arms etc in the normal way. This reply was received by the Tibetan Foreign Bureau with mixed feelings of disappointment and relief. But it is expected that the Tibetan Government in their present difficulties and weaknesses will ultimately appreciate the policy suggested by the Government of India.

3. A small but advanced section of the Tibetan officials is trying to urge upon the Tibetan Government the necessity of opening up the country immediately for modern communication with India, with the ulterior object of bringing military supplies for defending Tibetan independence. Any such hurried and drastic measures however are not likely to appeal to the Tibetan mind.

B. Relations between Tibet and China.

1. The following personnel has been selected by the Tibetan Government for contacting the new Peoples’ Democracy of China:

This Mission is expected to leave in the next month.

2. The Communist radio propaganda from Peking and Sinking is being carried on with great vigour. The services of a learned monk called Geshe Sherab Gyatse who had been appointed to a high post in the Government at Sining have been requisitioned for this purpose, and abusive attacks made on the Lhasa officialdom. This, combined with the reported cooperation of the Panchen Lama candidate in whose name appeals are being made to the Tibetans to join the ‘liberation’ movement, is causing a lot of anxiety among the official circles, who are now seriously thinking of broadcasting authentic news from Lhasa to counteract this propaganda.

3. There is news of a Provincial Tibetan Government having been established in China with former pro-Chinese Tibetans at its head.

4. Although there are no signs yet of any troops concentrations of the Tibetan borders by the Chinese Communists, local skirmishes like the one reported between the Derge chief and the Jyekundo tribal chief might give the Communists an excuse to support one or the other of them and start a regular infiltration into Tibet.

C. Relations between Tibet and Nepal.

1. The personnel of the deputation to be sent to Nepal via Siliguri is as follows:

2. A request to the Tibetan Government made by the Nepalese Representative for permission to open a wireless station at his legation was reported to have been turned down. It was pointed out without much effect by the Nepalese Representative that our Mission was running a wireless station here.

D. Relations between Tibet and U.S.A.

1. The Tibetan Mission to be sent to the U.S.A. consist of the following members:

2. It is learnt that Dr. Jessup has been invited by Tibetan Government to visit Lhasa for a discussion of the help U.S.A. could give to Tibet. As it is obvious that Dr. Jessup will have neither the time nor the energy to reach Lhasa on horseback, the possibility of his coming by air seems to be under discussion. The preparation of a tentative landing ground near Lhasa is reported to have been entrusted to Herr Harrer.

3. Out of all the countries approached by the Tibetan Government for military help in support of Tibet’s independence, the U.S.A. appears to be the most earnest, though probably not the most informed on Tibetan matters, in its desire to uphold the Tibetan requests in their entirety.

E. Relations between Tibet and U.K.

1. The Tibetan Mission to U.K. will include the following members:

2. Tibetan Government had sent a request to Mr. Bevin for help in gaining Tibet a membership of the U.N.O. his reply, pointing out the poor chances of such a proposal surviving the exercise of the veto-powers in the Security Council, was communicated to the Tibetan Government by the Government of India.

DOMESTIC AFFAIRS.

1. The reorganization of the Cabinet with three independent ministries, mentioned in the last report, was completed with the appointment of two Chief assistants in each ministry as follows”

External Affairs. Tsipen Lukhangwa and Trungyi Chempo Chhombay Thuptan.

Pay & Supplies. Tsipen Nagaphe and Trungyik Chempo Ngawang Trakpa.

Defence. Tsipen Namelingpa and Trungyik Chhempo Ngawang Nagyal.

2. The Ministry of External Affairs under the leadership of Rampa Kalen Lama is to receive directly the periodical reports from the Tibetan Trade Agents, the Garpons of Gartok, and the Dzengpens of the boundary districts, for being independently dealt with. The various missions which are being sent out to foreign countries will also be subject to the control and supervision of this ministry.

3. Tibetan Government is proposing to open wireless stations at 4 more places in Western and Northern Tibet, for which Government of India has been approached for supply of equipment. Mr. Abdul Matin is being sent to Gartok for establishing and running a wireless station there with the help of a Tibetan apprentice.

IIII. ECONOMIC AFFAIRS.

1. The wool prices still remained very high, as a result of which transport rates, especially between Yatung-Gangtok section kept at an abnormally high level.

2. In view of the large expenditure expected to be incurred on the missions to foreign countries, the Tibetan Government have requested the Government of India to be allowed to pay for the recent supply of ammunition in instalments of one lac of Rupees a year after the former dues have been paid up.

3. Tibetan Government is providing each of their missions with 10,000 Chinese silver dollars, and not Indian rupees, as demand on the rupee currency has been observed to bring down the Tibetan exchange, causing hardship to Tibetan traders.

IV. PRESS.

Tibetan affairs have been receiving increased attention in the foreign press, which is showing interest in obtaining authentic statements about  Tibet’s position from the highest Government authorities of Tibet. (See your memorandum No. 7(26)-P/49 dated the 4th January 1950).

V. PERSONAL & SOCIAL.

1. The Regent has been living at his own monastery in Taktra and is not expected to return to Lhasa for about a month.

2. The Nepalese Representative and some Tibetans and other officials were entertained to a lunch party at the Mission at the beginning of the New Year.

3. Mr. Richardson returned from England and is expected to leave soon for Lhasa.

VI. MISCELLANEOUS.

Continuous low temperatures has resulted in a good freezing of the pond adjacent to the Mission garden and opportunity is being taken by some enthusiasts (including Tibetans) to practice skating on it frequently which seems to be a new feature in Lhasa.

Sd/- V.V. Gokhale.

for Officer in Charge, Indian Mission, Lhasa.