Directory_and_Chronicle_1905 — Page 145

BRITISH TREATY WITH TIBET.

[Signed at Lhassa, 2nd SeptEMBER, 1904.]

[Translation.]

I.—The Tibetans consent to restore the boundary marks on the Chihmenggyung (Sikkim) frontier in accordance with Article 1 of the Convention of 1890.

II.-The Tibetans consent to establish at Gyangtse and at Ketak'e similar trading markets to the one at Yatung, whither British and Tibetan merchants and traders may have perfect liberty to resort. With reference to the Trade Convention of 1901 (K'uei-shil cycle) such clauses as have been fonnd unreliable shall be mutu- ally corrected and changed, and as soon as the said clauses shall have been corrected the provisions regarding the three places above-named shall be put into force. Traders proceeding to India shall follow the routes now opened. Should trade be encouraging in other places, arrangements shall be made to establish additional trading marts.

III. The Convention of 1901 having been found unsatifactory the Tibetan Authorities shall appoint Commissioners to confer with British officials in regard to the same.

IV. As soon as the duties have been settled they shall not hereafter be increased.

V.-From the Indian frontier the routes to Yatung, to Gyangtse, and to Gartok shall be free from Customs barriers. Should any portions of the said routes be found dangerous or difficult for travel they shall be repaired by the Tibetan Authorities. The latter shall also appoint Tibetan officers to the said three markets, and whenever British officials desire to communicate with the Imperial Chinese Resident or other Chinese or Tibetan officials it shall be the duty of the Tibetan officers at the said three marts to forward said dispatches. The same regulation shall apply in the case of new marts that may be opened in the future.

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VI.—The Tibetans having failed to regard former treaties the British high authorities of the frontier were obliged to enter into hostilities with the Tibetans, and in consequence thereof the Tibetan authorities hereby bind themselves to pay a War Indemnity of £500,000, being the equivalent of Rupees 7,500,000. payment of this War Indemnity shall be made in three instalments the first of which shall be paid on the 1st of January, 1905. The British Government shall appoint the place where these instalments shall be paid by the Tibetaus, or they may be delivered over at Darjeeling.

VII. In order to enforce the operation of the foregoing six clauses of this Treaty British and Indian troops shall continue to remain at Chumbi for the space of three years, or until such time as the said trade marts have been opened and the said Indemnity shall have been entirely paid, when the said troops shall be withdrawn.

VIII.-All the trade routes from the Indian frontier to Gyangtse and to Anterior Tibet (Ch'ien Ts'ang) shall be maintained in good condition by the Tibetan Authorities.

IX. The Tibetan Authorities shall not in the future mortgage, sell, lease or grant any land to any country without first obtaining the consent of the British Government. Nor shall they allow any other country to interfere with the relations between the two contracting parties; nor shall they allow any other country to send officials or private individuals to assist them in their government of the country. The Tibetan authorities shall not, furthermore, allow other nationalities to interfere in regard to keeping the routes in repair, nor shall they permit others to construct railways or open mines in Tibet. The Tibetans shall not mortgage nor exchange, nor lease, nor sell to other nationalities any of their property or valuables.

X.-This Treaty is respectively signed and sealed by the British Frontier High Commissioner Younghusband and the Dalai Lama, at Hsichao, on the 23rd day of the 7th month (2nd September 1904). The Treaty is written in the English and the Tibetan languages. In case of any difference of opinion in the interpretation of these presents the English version shall be adhered to.

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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN