File 2696/1914 Pt 1 'Tibet Convention Persia and Afghanistan Conversations with Russia' [‎230r] (333/334)

raise verv ftln ow ® yer > for y our Excellency s information, that, should M. Sazonof
™ennred y a Hf V b3 tf l0M !. 0 ^ 1S article ’ His Ma j est y’ s Government would be
mX^thePn V ^ r 1 fl reluctance, to delete it and to substitute an article
nmkmg the Englisli text of the convention authoritative.
18 8 ^J'nnient do not anticipate that the Russian Government will
raise any objection with respect to the Indo-Thibet boundary, but if they do so your
Excellency should explain that an accurate definition of the frontier has only become
possible during the last few months in consequence of the survey work undertaken
recently m the tribal territory, that the line chosen follows the main geographical
features approximating to the traditional border between Thibet and the semi-
independent tribes under the control of the Government of India, and that as far as
possible it divides exactly the territory occupied by people of Thibetan origin from
that inhabited by the Mms, Abors, Daphlas, and the other tribes within the British
sphere or influence.
. , 1T , is Ma jf?ty’ s Government do not regard the Trade Regulations as being,
m fact, a matter which directly concerns the Russian Government, and have only
communicated them as a matter of courtesy as they are mentioned in the convention.
It, however, the Russian Government raise any objection to them, your Excellency
can explain that the new regulations are merely a necessary adjustment of the
Regulations of 1908, which they were empowered to negotiate with the Thibetan
government by article 2 of the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907, to the altered
circumstances occasioned by the new Tripartite Convention.
c!^ n c “ nic ^ n g ^ ie convention and the accompanying documents to
^.1. Sazonof, youi Excellency should point out to him that, as he will readily perceive,
the events of the last few years have so radically altered the circumstances and so
profoundly modified the relations between the various parties concerned that certain
changes have become inevitable, if the ultimate goal of both British and Russian
policy is to be attained and a peaceful and prosperous future secured to Thibet.
rtuy therefore hope that the Russian Government will approach these proposals,
which they believe to contain the minimum disturbance of existing arrangements
which is possible in the circumstances if a permanent settlement is to be obtained,
with the same consideration, and in the same amicable spirit, which have characterised
the mutual relations of the two Governments on this question during the
past eight years.
In conclusion, I must inform your Excellency that it is of the greatest importance
that the assent of the Russian Government to these proposals should be received as
soon as possible, as it will be necessary that the Chinese and Thibetan delegates
should remain in India until signature can take place, and, apart from the injury to
his health which is feared by the Thibetan plenipotentiary as a result of a prolonged
sojourn in India during the hot weather, it is most desirable to avoid a long delay
between initialling and signature which will enable the Chinese Government to raise
objections and difficulties which may prove fatal to the successful conclusion of these
lengthy negotiations.
You should therefore use every endeavour to obtain a prompt reply to this
communication, and may, if you see fit, explain to M. Sazonof the practical difficulties
which will arise in the event of any considerable delay in proceeding to signature.
I desire, however, to leave to your Excellency full discretion as to the best means
of securing the acceptance of these proposals.
I am, &c.
E. GREY.