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of raising these questions ab integro. The Chinese Government are already deeply committed in the matter. Not only did their plenipotentiary initial the full text of the Tripartite Convention on the 27th April, 1914, but the Wai-chino Pu has itself recorded in explicit language its acceptance of the whole convention, except the boundary clauses. It would therefore seem desirable that an attempt should be made
to secure the adherence of the Chinese Government to that convention with the minimum of modification necessary to secure the object in view. The memorandum of the Peking Legation proposes to secure the right of stationing a British representative at Lhassa, and, subject to what is said in the last paragraph of this letter, this might conveniently be treated as a quid pro quo for the concession which His Majesty's Government are prepared to make regarding the boundary. Any further concession to China should be held in reserve, to be offered in the course of negotiations if circum- stances so require.
For the present, however, the first step is clearly to sound the Thibetan Govern- ment as to their views on the proposed revised terms of agreement; and it is proposed, subject to the above remarks, and to Mr. Balfour's concurrence, to authorise the Government of India to proceed accordingly.
The bearing of this proposal, particularly with regard to the provision for the establishment of a permanent representation at Lhassa, on the Anglo- Russian Convention of 1907, will not be overlooked, and Mr. Secretary Balfour will doubtless consider whether, in the circumstances, reference to any Russian Government is necessary, and. if so, at what stage. This Office would confine itself to remarking that, after the publicity that has been given to Count Benckendorff's memorandum of the 22nd March, 1915, it is most undesirable at the present juncture to reopen questions relating to Afghanistan.
I am, &c.
Enclosure in No. 1.
TRIPARTITE CONVENTION, 1914.
(Text as initialled by British, Chinese, and Thibetan Plenipotentiaries on the 27th April, 1914.)
HIS Majesty the King, &c., &c., his Excellency the President of the Chinese Republic, and his Holiness the Dalai Lama of Thibet, being sincerely desirous to settle by mutual agreement various questions concerning the interests of their several States on the Continent of Asia, and further to regulate the relations of their several Governments, subject and have appointed their plenipotentiaries,
have resolved to conclude a convention on this
&c.
Who having communicated, &c., have agreed upon and concluded the following convention in
eleven articles:-
ARTICLE 1.
The conventions specified in the schedule to the present convention shall, except in so far as they may have been modified by, or may be inconsistent with or repugnant to any of the provisions of the present convention, continue to be binding upon the high contracting parties.
ARTICLE 2.
The Governments of Great Britain and China, recognising that Thibet is under the suzerainty of China, and recognising also the autonomy of
J. E. SHUCKBURGH.
HEADS OF SUGGESTED NEW AGREEMENT.
1. Complete autonomy of Thibet under Chinese suzerainty.
2. The boundaries of autonomous Thibet to follow the lines fixed in the convention map for "Outer has in modern times been popularly Thibet," which correspond to what
between China and Thibet (Batang considered to be the dividing line boundary pillar), watershed between Yang-tsze and Mekong, watershed
between sources of Yellow River and Yang-taze, range south of Traidam swamps, &c.; the entire frontier to be exactly delimited later on by a British-Chinese-Tibetan boundary comunission.
3. British and Chinese repre- sentatives of equal status with escorts of equal size (not to exceed three hundred men) to be stationed at Lhassa for the purpose of looking after the interests of their respective nationals, advising the Thibetan Government regarding foreign
3
Outer Thibet, engage to respect the territorial integrity of the country, and to abstain from interference in the administration of Outer Thibet (including the selection and installation of the Dalai Lama), which shall remain in the hands of the Thibetan Government at Lhassa.
The Government of China engages not to convert Thibet into a Chinese province. The Government of Great Britain engages not to annex Thibet or any portion of it.
ARTICLE 3.
Recognising the special interest of Great Britain, in virtue of the geographical position of Thibet, in the existence of an effective Thibetan Government, and in the maintenance of peace and order in the neighbourhood of the frontiers of India and adjoining States, the Government of China engages, except as provided in article 4 of this convention, not to send troops into Outer Thibet, nor to station civil or military officers, or establish Chinese colonies in the country. Should
any such troops or officials remain in Õuter Thibet at the date of the signature of this convention, they shall be withdrawn within a period not exceeding three The Government of Great Britain engages not to station military or civil officers in Thibet (except as provided in the convention of the 7th September, 1904, between Great Britain and Thibet) nor troups (except the agents' escorts), nor to establish colonies in that country.
months.
ARTICLE 4.
The foregoing article shall not be held to preclude the continuance of the arrangement by which, in the past, a Chinese bigh official with suitable escort has been maintained at Lhassa, but it is hereby provided that the said escort shall in no circumstances exceed 300 men.
ARTICLE 5.
The Governments of China and Thibet engage that they will not enter into any negotiations or agreements regarding Thibet with one another, or with ay other Power, excepting such negotiations and agreements between Great Britain and Thibet as are provided for by the convention of the 7th September, 1904, between Great Britain and Thibet, and the convention of the 27th April, 1906, between Great Britain and China.
ARTICLE 6.
Article 3 of the convention of the 27th April, 1906, between Great Britain and China is hereby cancelled, and it is understood that in article 9 (d) of the convention of the 7th September, 1904, between Great Britain and Thibet the term
foreign Power" does not include China.
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relations, and, in the case of the Chinese representative, of seeing that the autonomous Government of Thibet does not by its acts violate the suzerain rights of China.
4. British and Chinese trade agents, or consuls, of equal status to be stationed at the trade marts, which shall include Chiando, for the purpose of looking after the interests of and exercising jurisdic tion over their respective nationals (which in the case of the Chinese would not include Thibetans), and of maintaining consular relations with the local Thibetan officials.
5. Apart from the above, no British or Chinese troops, or civil or military officials to be allowed in Thibet except with the concurrence of all three contracting parties. Chinese garrisons to be withdrawn from Eastern Thibet and Kham within three months, Neither
Great Britain nor China to interfere
in
any way with the internal administration of Thibet, nor to found colonies of their nationals in Thibet.
6. Ex-territorial rights for British and Chinese nationals in Thibet; British subjects to have the same rights of freedom
and
trade as Chinese; most-favoured-nation clause for British and Chinese
commerce.
7. Thibet not to be represented in the Chinese Parliament.
or
8. Provisions in existing conven- tions, &c., inconsistent with repugnant to present convention to lapse.
9. Treaty to be published at the trade markets throughout Thibet and Chinese Thibet. Great Britain engages to keep China fully informed of any negotiation or agreement she may enter into with Thibet.
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