'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎15r] (34/228)

1
(!£)
formerly were not allowed to trade at all by
the Phari route. Captain O’Connor thinks
that these men (especially the Ladakis), who
are very enterprising, will certainly take
advantage of any facilities which present
themselves in the way of trade.
30. Vide paragraph 29 of the Memo
randum for February 1905. In consequence of
renewed representations by the Assistant
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. at Chumbi, trade at Phari is
once more free from taxes.
31. On the 16th idem, Mr. Bell reported
that the Lhasa regular troops (trapchi),
who were killed at Guru, have been
replaced, and the regiment has been called
up once already for drill purposes since the
Mission left Lhasa. It appears to be
customary for such troops to be called in
about twice yearly in order to be drilled.
32. See paragraph 28 of the Memo
randum for February 1905. The Yutok Shape
and suite arrived at Gyantse at noon on the
28th February, and an interview ensued be
tween him and the British Trade Agent.
The Shape asked that the telegraph line
between Phari and Gyantse, which he said
caused great inconvenience to the peasants
along the road owing to some of the posts
being planted in their fields, should be removed.
He also urged that we should arrange to do
without a telegraph line at all. He was in
formed that this was not possible, but Captain
O’Connor promised to do what lie could to
prevent posts being planted in the middle of
the fields. Captain O’Connor also informed the
Shape (see paragraph 30 of this Memoran
dum), in reply to the latver’s enquiry whether
tolls might not be continued at Phari pending
the settlement of the Trade Begulations, that
such an idea, which involved a violation of
clause IV of the Convention, had better be
dropped. He added that the sooner an answer
was received from Lhasa to the Viceroy’s invita
tion to Tibetan delegates to visit India, the
sooner would the question of levying dues be
settled. The Shape expressed anxiety that the
posting of a Trade Agent at Gyantse should
not be permanent, as he thought it would
lead to trouble in connection wuth questions
of jurisdiction over British subjects.
Captain O’Connor replied that such arrange
ments on questions of jurisdiction were usual
in China and elsewhere; but that at present
he was not authorised to make any definite
arrangements with him, and that no doubt
this matter as well as others relating to
purely trading questions would be settled later
when representatives of both parties were ap
pointed in accordance with the terms, of the
Convention ; that in the meantime no disagree
ment was likely to arise, as be had no intention
of interfering in any way with Tibetan subjects,