'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎77r] (158/228)

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coiec, a L trade routes
In additio^Je^iS SftTbfpaid
traversed. Frieadly relatioas were to CcultT
the Cd expedit on Tlbe - a M’ ^ ^ WaS ho P ed that
tne expedition might also prove of some
political value. The Lhasa Government
were
!!? pll £V? f0r * P ass P°i’t and for the services
a Tibetan official of standing who should
accompany the party to Batan|, Ld render
the same services as in the case of the recent
successful Gartok expedition. The sanction of
His Majesty s Government was at the same
time solicited. The Secretary of State, how
ever, replied on the 21st July that, in Sir E.
Satow s . opinion, the Chinese Government
would disclaim responsibility for the safety of
the party owing to the disturbed condition of
Batang, &c., and His Majesty’s Government
therefore considered that the journey should
not he undertaken; while, on the 28th July,
Captain O’Connor reported receipt of a letter
from the Lhasa Government, couched in almost
threatening terms (vide paragraph 13 of the
Memorandum for July 1905), in which they
protested against our action in the Chumhi
valley, asked that the telegraph line should
be dismantled, and practically refused to
grant the passport, giving as grounds
for their refusal (1) the dangerous
character of the natives of Eastern Tibet,
against whom protection could not be
guaranteed, and (2) the fact that there was
no stipulation in the Lhasa Convention that
foreigners were to be allowed to travel in
Tibet. Shortly afterwards the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. ,
Sikkim, reported (8th August) that, if pressed,
the Tibetans would probably grant the pass
port. In the circumstances, however, the
projected journey has been abandoned, and
Mr. Wilton has submitted a proposal to be
allowed to proceed with a party of the same
composition as that previously proposed from
Darjeeling to Tsethang on the Sangpo, via the
Chumbi valley and the unexplored country
south of Lake Palti. Prom Tsethang they
would travel to Eima via Giamda and Dong-
sar. Prom Kima they would strike into Assam
through the country of the Mishmis, finally
emerging at Sadiya, whence they would return
direct to Calcutta. The whole journey would
take three months to accomplish. The proposal
is now under consideration.
15. In September 1904, the British Com-
missioner with the Tibet Mission was asked to
try and arrange to have the road from Kangma
to Gyantse made fit for the passage of wheeled
vehicles before the forces in Tibet left, as it
was most desirable that that portion ofthe
road to Gyantse in Tibet should be a cart road,