'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎88r] (180/228)

s
,, P ursua,nc e of the course of action
that had been decided on, Mr Wilton was
sent to Calcutta on the 23rd October, with
instructions to interview Mr. Chans: on
behalf of Mr. Eraser, and to inform him of the
decision which had finally been arrived at
namely, that the adhesion of the Chinese’
Government to the Lhasa Convention would
be dispensed with, unless Mr. Chang was
prepared to sign the draft agreement before the
18th November, the date of His Excellency
Lord Curzon’s departure from India. He was
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O VIC jJdll LU.1C MU III J_UU.ia,
also to inform him that the latest date on which
it would be possible for Mr. Eraser to be in
Calcutta for the purpose of signing the agree
ment wms the 13th November, and that
his final answer should reach Mr. Eraser
at latest by the 30th October. In addition to
making these verbal communications to Mr.
Chang, Mr. Wilton was also authorised to
communicate with him in writing, and to ask
him for a written reply on any point connected
wdth the subject, which circumstances might
render it necessary to reduce to writing.
Mr. Wilton saw Mr. Chan": on the
30th October, and explained the position to
him clearly.
Mr. Chang declined to give any
reply verbally or otherwise as to whether he
was in receipt of any instructions from the
Chinese Government to meet the views of His
Majesty’s Government, relative to the agree
ment. He added that the matter was one of
such vital importance that he could only com
municate with Mr. Eraser in a personal inter
view at Calcutta. Mr. Wilton explained the
impossibility of this, and urged that the written
authority conferred on himself by theGov-
ment of India, together with his Commission as
Assistant Commissioner, were sufficient as cre
dentials and that he awaited the reply which he
bad been led to expect that he would receive
from Mr. Chang. Mr. Chang refused to be con
vinced, and declared that his powers were so
Inch that he could only communicate the reply
asked for to a principal. He declined, how
ever to communicate it m writing. He «as
warned that the Government of India would
Jobably report to His Majesty’s Government
ZC and would advise them to d = e > p
the adhesion of del—m,
Lhasa Convention. liomCa^^t d
to' 6 be 'to dlelay matters until the departure
of Lord Curzon. M emo-
(See paragraph ^ 01 Maiestv’s
randum for September 1905 ) His M_.l
Government approved^ tLe
reply to the lett requested that no
Tibetan Goyernmen , t p e demand
reference should bt maue