File 1855/1904 Pt 4 'Koweit:- Loans to Sheikh.' [‎118v] (236/242)

Amban that, after the date fixed for the
advance, he would decline to negotiate at
Gyantse. Colonel Younghusband replied that
he had no means of communicating with the
Amban, as any messenger sent by him would
undoubtedly be murdered. In reply, it was
suggested that he should send the notice with
a covering letter to the Commander of the
Tibetan forces, explaining the nature of the
communication. Instructions were also sent
that, in order that the Tibetans might be
fully aware of the decision of the British
Government, a letter should be written to the
Dalai Lama in terms identical with those of
the communication to the Amban.
44. In view of the expected advance to
Lhasa, the following reinforcements are under
orders for Tibet:—8 mountain guns, 4 com
panies British Infantry, and 4 companies Native
Infantry are due on the 8th June at Chumbi.
In addition, sanction has been accorded to the
move of half a battalion of British Infantry to
Darjeeling in support, and it is also proposed
to send half a battalion of Native Infantry to
Chumbi. A third company of Mounted
Infantry has also been ordered to Tibet.
General Macdonald’s demands for transport
have been fully complied with.
45. On the 8th May, it was decided that,
owing to the attack on Gyantse and the serious
opposition at Karo La, preponderance must be
given to military considerations. General
Macdonald was accordingly authorised to take
all measures necessary to secure the safety of the
Mission and its communications, and to exercise
the same control of military operations and Press
censorship as during the advance from Thuna
until such time as active opposition should cease,
and negotiations with properly accredited
Chinese and Tibetan delegates should become
possible.
46. Two further communications have
reached Colonel Younghusband from the
Amban {vide paragraph 40 of the Memorandum
for April). In the first, dated the 23id April,
the Resident explained that he had again urged
the Dalai Lama to appoint suitable Tibetan
representatives and to supply him with trans
port in order that he might proceed to Gyantse
to negotiate; delay, however, had arisen from
the necessity of convoking an assembly of the
clerical and lay representatives of the three
great monasteries to discuss the question.
In the second, dated the 29th April, the
Amban wrote, with reference to Colonel
Younghusband’s enquiry on the subject,that the
Dalai Lama and the representatives of the three
great monasteries denied any knowledge of
monks having taken arms against the Mission.
Their communication had given no reply,
however, to the Amban’s request that Tibetan
delegates should be appointed, and that he