Monthly Report of the Indian Mission, Lhasa, for Period Ending 15th May 1950

SECRET

From: The Indian Trade Agent, Gyantse, and 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 May 1950.

Monthly Report of the Indian Mission, Lhasa, for period ending 15th May 1950.

1. EXTERNAL RELATIONS

A. Relations between Tibet and India.

The Government of India have had to cancel visas for Hongkong issued at Calcutta to the Tibetan Mission to China. It has been explained to the Tibetan Government that this is not due to obstruction on their part; but to the wishes of H.M.G. who require further information (for which they have asked the Tibetan Government) before deciding the question.

The Tibetan Government were informed that sanction had not been given for the sale in India of Chinese dollars intended to provide funds for the Tibetan Government's proposed Missions to the U.K. and the U.S.A., which do not appear to be likely to proceed. This was necessary as the leaders to those Missions, now in Gyantse, wanted to send the dollars down to India in advance. The Tibetan Government have issued necessary orders to the leaders of the Missions.

B. Relations between Tibet and China.

1. The Tibetan Government are firm in their intention to send their Mission to China to Hongkong where they are to make contact with the Chinese Government. They have explained, in reply to an enquiry tram the U.K. High Commissioner, that the intention of this mission is to try to secure from the Chinese Government recognition of Tibet's independent status. They said that it the mission were sent tor to Peking they would report for further orders to the Tibetan Government. Visas for Hongkong are now awaited. Officials of the Foreign Bureau have expressed informally mild surprise at the delay; and I have explained informally the difficult situation in Hongkong.

This mission seems to be involved in a dangerous task as hopes or getting any concession out of the Chinese Government which will not involve the ultimate absorption of Tibet into China seem forlorn. But it is possible b to understand the Tibetan Government's desire to reach a solution which will not involve military invasion or Tibet.

2. A report appeared in the British “Intelligence Digest” (De Courcy) that a large Chinese army with Russian advisers was ready in Sinkiang to invade Tibet and had maps based on an aerial survey or Tibet by Russian aircraft last December. The Tibetan Government have had no reports of the presence of any aircraft over Tibet during the winter but are enquiring from their officials in West Tibet.

The route from Khotan or anywhere else in Sinkiang for an invading appears impracticable and this view is confirmed by a Torgut traveller with some experience at those parts, who had recently reached Lhasa. But the idea cannot be entirely ruled out.

3. Press reports told of the destruction of 10,000 Chinese Nationalist troops in Sinkiang near the borders of Tibet. The Tibetan Government have had no information or this from Chamdo. The Nationalist troops may have been those in the neighbourhood of Tatsienlu.

4. Geshe Sherab Gyatao (whose death was recently rumoured), one of the leaders of the Provisional Government or Tibet set up by the Communists in Sining, broadcast in Tibetan on 6th May. He said that the Chinese Government wanted a peaceful settlement with Tibet and the Tibetan Government should send representatives to negotiate in Peking at once; otherwise, Chinese armies were ready in Sinkiang, Sining and Kham. 

5. The powerful broadcasting station, which the Chinese Government are establishing at Peking is reported to be opening on May 20th to broadcast to Tibet and Mongolia.

6. A party of Torgut refugees, headed by a Prince from Kuldja called Chin Wang Mingyur Tsewang Dorje, or Min Wang, reached Lhasa some weeks ago via East Sinkiang and the Tsaidam. The Prince had decided to escape before the Communists caught him. He has a long history or evading overtures from the Russians, Japanese and the Chinese Nationalist Government. Now he hopes for refuge in India.

C. Relations between Tibet and Nepal

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

1. A British subject, Miss Bevan, who is a Theosophist and who applied for and was refused permission to visit Shigatse (where the Theosophists mistakenly believe is a college containing Masters of their faith) is reported to have entered Tibet from north Sikkim, without permission and to have reached Shigatse.

2. The Government of India have permitted a British subject, Mr. Turnbull., who is a student of Hinduism to visit Mount Kailas in West Tibet with a party of Indian pilgrims. The agreement of the Tibetan Government is being sought but as I understand unofficially that they do not like the grant of permits by Indian authorities to British subjects for visits to Tibet, this case may bring their objections into the open. As visits to the Gyantse Trade Route are a long accepted practice, the Tibetan Government would not find very good ground to objecting in that connection; but visits to West Tibet are rare.

3. At the request or the Political Officer, the Tibetan Government permitted Mr. Bricker, U.S. Vice Consul in Bombay, to visit Yatung with a British companion. The Tibetan Government, in doing so, stated that they did not normally intend to give permission for foreign visitors to Tibet at the present time.

4. The U.S. Ambassador in India asked the Government of India to transmit through this Mission enquiries about the applications from Mr. Turnbull and Mr. Steele to visit Lhasa; but as the Tibetan Government had already replied, refusing permission, the message was not transmitted.

II. DOMESTIC.

1. A new Tibetan regiment, which is being trained at Lhasa, received its colours from the Regent and Commander in Chief early in May.

2. It is understood that Herr Harrer, one or the Austrian refugees now employed by the Tibetan Government has been meeting the Dalai Lama, probably in connection with a cinema room which Herr Harrer is making at Norbu Lingka. I am told that Herr Harrer claims to have had long general conversations with the Dalai Lama. Thia will be checked; but if it is true, the Regent and his entourage are likely to object as they do not want the Dalai Lama to have private talks with outsiders until he comes of age.

3. Ngapho Shape, Commissioner-designate or Kham, who has served before in that area., is conscious of the dangers from bad administration and official exactions there and he is planning to improve things by asking for adequate allowances for the staff which he will take with him and whom he intends to choose only from reliable officials of his acquaintance. He also has ideas at improving the economic status of the Khampas.

4. It is reported that a few cases of smallpox have occurred but this needs confirmation. Vaccine asked for from India about 6 weeks ago has not yet arrived and the Tibetan Government are anxious.

5. Gyalo Dhondup, an elder brother or the Dalai Lama who returned from China last year, and who was believed to be anxious to get back to China with the Tibetan Mission, is reported to be hesitating to do so as he fears the Tibetan Government will be angry with him. His family has been anxious for him to return to Lhasa but he has kept putting this off and is now causing them trouble by constant demands for large sums of money.

III. ECONOMIC AFFAIRS.

--- NIL ---

IV. PRESS.

--- NIL ---

V. PERSONAL AND SOCIAL.

Professor V. V. Gokhale, Officer on Special Duty, leFt Lhasa on 12th May on the termination of his appointment. During his stay he acquired an insight into Tibetan affairs and also pursued valuable studies in Tibetan and found a few old Sanskrit manuscripts.

The Foreign Bureau and some other friends attended farewell parties for Professor Gokhale. A number of Tibetan officials paid farewell calls. 

VI. MISCELLANEOUS.

1. An Abbot of Sera monastery has been attending the Mission hospital regularly for treatment. It is, I think, the first occasion on which a high dignitary of one of the great monasteries has done this.

2. The Dalai Lama moved to his summer residence at Norbu Lingka on 4^th May.

Sd/- H. E. Richardson,

Indian Trade Agent, Gyantse &

Officer in Charge, Indian Mission, Lhasa.