'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎90v] (185/228)

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regarding the Tibetan dignitary who recently
interviewed the American Minister, with the
object of securing his good offices in relation
to the Lhasa Convention.
This Envoy of tbe Dalai Lama is
named Balte Gegen, and is described as a
chief councillor of high rank and a member
of the monastery of Sera at Lhasa. He was
some time ago sent to Urga by the Dalai
Lama to be the instructor of the “Living
Buddha” of that place; but the latter not
being desirous of listening to his teaching, be
was, on the arrival of the Dalai Lama at
Urga, sent up to Peking as Envoy to the
Chinese Court.
Sir E. Satow considers that in all prob
ability the visit to Mr. Bockhill was paid
with the cognisance of the Foreign Board, for
the language used by the emissary about the
necessity of the Convention being disposed of,
in order to enable the Dalai Lama to return
to Lhasa, agreed closely with remarks that
have been made to Sir E. Satow by Natung
himself.
12. (See paragraph 9 of the Memorandum
for September 1905.) The Assistant Political
Officer, Chum hi, reported on the 29th Sep
tember that the start of the Dalai Lama back
to Lhasa was celebrated at Lhasa with public
rejoicings on the 15th day of the 6th month
(about 15th August last).
He also reported that he had received
further confirmation of the report that the
Lama Shape had left Lhasa to escort the Dalai
Lama back.
13. (See paragraph 8 of the Memoran
dum for September 1905.) The agent whom
Captain O’Connor sent to Lhasa states that,
during the Dalai Lama’s stay at Urga, he has
been in constant correspondence with Russia,
and Dorjieff is said to have passed to and fro
between Russian territories and Urga several
times. The Dalai Lama had counted confi
dently upon receiving assistance from Russia,
and the Tibetans say that the failure of the
Russians to come to their help was due to their
defeat by the Japanese.
Captain O’Connor has reported that
the Tashi Lama has received notice from
Lhasa to make preparations to receive the
Dalai Lama in person on his return to Lhasa.
14. (See paragraph 1455 of the Memo
randum for August 1905.) The agent whom
Captain O’Connor sent to Lhasa could get no
further news regarding the party of
Mongols who recently left Lhasa. He says
the two leaders were “ Russian Mongols ”,
probably meaning Buriats. In addition to
some rifles, they are said also to have presented
to the Lhasa Government two boxes of gun
making tools.
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