Treaty of Lhasa (1904) - General Knowledge of Modern India:
British Government Role, demand for independence from china, Russian Influence In Tibet, Colonel Younghusband Reached.
ROLE
Lord Curzon's policy regarding Tibet is an important event of his viceroyalty. During the time of Governor General Lord Warren Hastings, the British government was trying to establish trade relations with Tibet and for this purpose it sent many ambassadors there, but no special success was obtained from them. In 1886 AD, the Government of China allowed the British Board of Trade to come to Tibet and after some time the British got permission to do business in a place called Yatung, Tibet. But the people of Tibet were generally against the British and therefore the British government did not get any special benefit even after getting permission from the Chinese government.
DEMAND FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM CHINA
When Curzon reached India, some new political changes were taking place in Tibet, which also attracted the attention of Viceroy. The people of Tibet were developing a strong sense of independence from China and they made the Dalai Lama their leader. The Dalai Lama proved himself as a powerful independent ruler. As soon as he became an adult, he overturned the throne of the regency government of China and by taking powerful authority over it, handled the burden of governance with firm belief and ability. He asked a Russian-born monk named Dorjieff to collect money from Buddhists living in Russia for religious purposes. Dorjief also met the Russian Emperor. Russian newspapers gave great importance to Dorjief's efforts and welcomed the growing Russian influence in Tibet.
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RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN TIBET
The Government of India got worried about these information and understood that the Russian Government was increasing its political influence in its neighboring region of Tibet through Dorjief. Lord Curzon took the issue of Russians in Tibet seriously as it was likely to hurt the prestige of the British in Asia. Lord Curzon insisted on the Government of England to send a mission to Tibet. He also insisted on establishing trade relations with Tibet, but the British government was not in favor of sending the mission. On this, Lord Curzon suggested that talks should be held with Tibet and China at a place called Khamba Dzong, fifteen miles north of the border of Sikkim, and the need to fulfill treaty obligations on both the governments should be emphasized. If the messenger does not reach there, then the British commissioner himself reaches there. The English government reluctantly accepted Curzon's point and sent a mission to Khambajong under the leadership of Colonel Francis Younghusband.
COLONEL YOUNGHUSBAND REACHED
Khambazong in July 1903 AD, but the Tibetans refused to come to the talks till then. As a result, there was an obstruction in the conversation. Meanwhile, the Tibetans started gathering their forces near Khambazong. Curzon could not tolerate this and sought permission from the English government to send troops to Gyantse. Foreign Minister Lord Lansdowne gave approval on the condition that the forces would return after the damages were done.
Treaty of Lhasa (7 September 1904) In 1904 AD, the British forces started moving towards Gyantse (Gyantse, Tibbat) and on the last day of the month, they had their first encounter with the Tibetan forces at a place called Guru. The Tibetan armies had neither good weapons nor good leadership, so the Tibetans were badly defeated in a short time. Seven hundred of his soldiers were killed, while not a single soldier of the English army was killed. The British got the right over Gyantse. But even then the Dalai Lama did not accept to make a treaty. On this, the cabinet ordered to attack Lhasa. English forces under the leadership of Younghusband defeated the Tibetan forces and entered Lhasa, the holy and important city of Tibetans. The Dalai Lama fled the city. Younghusband started negotiating a treaty with the Dalai Lama's agent, to whom the Dalai Lama had given the right of treaty-desecration before fleeing. After long negotiations, the treaty was signed on 7th September. This treaty is famous by the name of Treaty of Lhasa. According to the terms of this treaty:
CONDITIONS OF LHASA TREATY
It was decided to open business centers in Yatung, Gyantse and Gurutok. It was decided to keep a British trade agent in Gyantse who could also go to Lhasa if needed. 75 lakh rupees should be given to the British government as compensation, which will have to be paid in annual installments of one lakh rupees. Till the payment of the entire amount of indemnity, it was decided to stay British forces in the Chumbi valley between Bhutan and Sikkim.
According to the other terms of the Lhasa Treaty, Britain got the direct right to influence the foreign policy of Tibet. According to this, no part of Tibet could be given to any foreign power, nor could the agent of any nation enter Tibet. No country or its people could be given facilities in relation to railway tracks, roads, telegraph and mines in Tibet. It was decided that if such facilities were given to any other country, they would have to be given to the British government soon.
CHANGES TO TERMS BY ST JOHN BRODRICK
The terms of the treaty were tough. That's why the Russian government opposed them. India Minister John Broderick also felt that the young husband had been more strict with Tibet infringing on their rights. He urged for a renegotiation of the treaty. As a result, the treaty was repeated. According to the new conditions -
01. The amount of compensation was reduced from 75 lakhs to 25 lakhs.
02. It was decided that after the annual installments were paid, the British forces would be withdrawn from the Chumbi valley.
03. Permission to visit Lhasa to the British representative based in Gyantse was revoked.
CRITICISM OF LORD CURZON'S
Tibet Policy There has been a lot of difference of opinion regarding Lord Curzon's policy regarding Tibet. Lord Rosebery criticized Curzon's Tibetan policy in the House of Lords and compared it to the foolish Afghan policy adopted by Lytton. He said that in both cases the British Government intervened out of perceived fear of Russia and in both cases the British Government had no political or legal right to interfere in the affairs of independent states.
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