File No.

8(11)
NEF/49
Govt of India
Ministry of External Affairs
North East Frontier Branch

Miscellaneous reports on Tibet from the Indian missions abroad and other unofficial sources.

Copy of a memorandum No.3(10)-L/49 of 23 rd June 1949 from the Officer in Charge, Indian
Mission, Lhasa, Tibet to the Political Officer in Sikkim, Gangtok.
D 5074-NEF/49
Reference para 2. of the enclosure to your memorandum No.4(2)-P/49 dated the 7 th June
1949.
From private information it appears that the Tibetan Trade Mission have said
something in their report to the Tibetan Govt about the treaty between Tibet and India but it
appears that the Tibetan Govt do not want to take up the question at present. It remains to be
seen what transpires from the discussions in the National Assembly on the Trade Mission’s
report.

Extract from a letter No.2514(3)/30-49(1) dated the 4 th June 1949, from the Supdt. of Police,
D.I.B., Darjeeling to the Political Officer in Sikkim.
It is reported that the Tibetan Govt is now preparing a draft for a fresh treaty with the
Govt of India. After the completion of the draft some high officials of the Tibetan Govt may
go to Delhi. For this reason Tsepon Sagappa (Leader, Tibetan Trade Mission) has given a
written order to Sri Pangda Tshang and three other traders not to pay the oncome tax, levied
recently by the Income tax Dept.
From- The Indian Trade Agent, Gyantse & Officer in Charge, Indian Mission, Lhasa, P.O.
Gyantse, Tibet.
To- The Political Officer in Sikkim, Gangtok.

Memorandum No.3(1)-L/49
Dated Lhasa, Tibet, the 25th August 1949.
The National Assembly has been meeting recently and, although secrecy about its
deliberations is being much more strictly maintained nowadays than in the past, Mr. Pemba
Tsering has succeeded in getting information about the topics of discussion.
2. The principal subject was the Chinese installation of the Panchen Rimpochhe in which
connection the Tibetan Govt decided to send a telegraphic protest to the Chinese Govt. The
Tibetan Govt’s decision not to recognize any candidate until claims have bene examined at
Lhasa, was confirmed. It is almost certain that if the Kum Bum candidate can be brought to
Lhasa without a Chinese escort he will be recognised immediately. Some officials from
Tsang are coming to Lhasa soon and are expected to ask the Tibetan Govt to recognise the
Kum Bum candidate at once but it seems most likely that the Tibetan Govt will come to a
secret understanding with them on the above lines.
3. The Tibetan Govt have given orders for preparing lists of Hopalingpas and other Chinese
now in Lhasa. A register will be maintained and approved persons will be given permits to
stay. They will have to report their movements to the Tibetan Govt. the Hopalingpas are
Chinese Muslims who have lived in Lhasa for several generations and are treated as Tibetan
subjects, and are in general well behaved. Tibetan frontier posts have been warned to keep a
strict look-out for foreigners, especially Chinese.
4. The Tibetan Govt propose to prepare a record showing what man-power is available from
all over Tibet in an emergency.
5. Kapsho Se, Kapshopa ex-Shape’s nephew and adopted son, was formerly a member of the
National Assembly but has been ordered not to attend recent meetings. This is apparently due
to remarks he made at previous meetings of the Assembly to the effect that there are
communist-minded officials in Lhasa and that the Tibetan Govt consider that such
suggestions are quite unfounded and it seems unlikely that any Tibetan officials in his senses
would profess communist views at present.
6. The Tibetan Govt also decided to recall to Lhasa two of their representatives in Chin, who
are now in Kalimpong. One of the officials has orders to return to China as soon as conditions
permit. It appears that the Tibetan Govt informed Mr. Chen, before he left Lhasa, that matters
for discussion between the Chinese and Tibetan Govt could be handled through the Tibetan
representatives who would be returning to China as soon as possible.
Sd: H.E. Richardson.
 Officer in Charge, Indian Mission,
Lhasa.

Extract from Memorandum No.3(1)-L/49 dated the 4th September, 1949, from the Indian
Mission, Lhasa, to the Political Officer in Sikkim.
It appears that Mr. Lowell Thomas was allowed to take photgraphs and cine-pictures
of the Dalai Lama and was given a private interview. The Tibetans seem more ready to allow
such favours to chance visitors than to the regular residents. Major Guthrie, when leaving,
asked whether he might take cine pictures of the Dalai Lama, but was refused. And very
recently I asked for a private interview to enable me to give the presents from the King,
Viceroy and Prime Minister, in a suitable manner, but was told that it had been decided to
allow no private interviews while the Dalai Lama was a minor. I shall let the Foreign Bureau
know what this sudden change of mind looks strange. Although private interviews while the
Dalai Lama is a minor can serve no very useful purpose, it is desirable to have a means of
exerting pressure in case it really becomes advisable to ask for such an interview.

Government of West Bengal

Home Department
Political.
From: P.W. Mann, Esqr., B.A., Asst. Secy. To the Govt of West Bengal.
To: The Secretary to the Govt of India, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.
No. 943-P.S./2T-11(Part)/49, dated Calcutta, the 22nd November, 1949.
I am directed ti forward herwith a copy of notes recorded by Hon’ble Sri Niharendu
Dutt Majumdar, Minister-in-charge of the Judicial and Legislative Department of this Govt,
on the occasion of his tour to Sikkim and Tibet borders last year, for the information of the
Govt of India and for such action as may be considered necessary.
Yours faithfully
P.W. Mann
Asst. Secy. To the Govt of West Bengal.
 Top Secret
Dated the 13th October, 1948.
1. I am reliably informed that some sort of British establishment and occupation exists in
parts of Tibet at present, but precisely what is the number of British troops stationed
there seems to be a matter for conjecture but the fact is reliably asserted that there are
British troops stationed at a place called ‘Moen’ within what is known locally as the
‘Lhocha’ province of Tibet. This place is situated I am told somewhere in a direction
south of Lhasa and east of Bhutan.
I do not know whether the External Affairs Ministry of the Govt of India is aware of this
fact and all relevant particulars about it.
2. I also gathered that a certain Tibetan monk had tried to collect information about this
British Garrission and had prepared a map of the area concerned but at the instance of
the British this monk was apprehended by the Lhasa authorities and is now confined
in prison. This would illustrate that somehow the Lhasa authorities at present
happened to be very much under British influence.
3. It is perhaps known that about a couple of years ago (I am subject to correction as to
the precise year and date) the Regent who was then in-charge of the young Dalai
Lama had been thrown into dangens where he died. That Regent was a vigorous
young monk possessed of great spiritual reputation and it is presumed that his death
inside the dangen could not be out of natural causes. The present Regent ‘Tak-tah’
who is now in-charge of 14 year old Dalai Lama and is known to be a very willy old
am established himself into undisputed authority. It is suspected that the British power
had some hands in the affair and Regent ‘Tak-tah’ may be said to be their man now
entrenched in Tibet through whom the British influence is at present being exercised.
4. The present Regency is thus made an instrument with the help of which British
occupation troops reported to be at Moen has been affected. It is said that sometime
ago some Tibetan Estate Holders of the locality and other Tenure Holders
similarly concerned made representation to the Lasha authorities in order to get
clarification of their position vis-à-vis the British authorities at Moen and were
directed to pay their revenues and other dues to the British at Moen instead of the
Tibetan authorities at Lasha as hithertofore. This makes the situation all the more
curious.
5. The entire state power in Tibet is now concentrated in the hands of the Regent ‘Tak-
tah’ as the guardian of the 14 year old Dalai Lama and his ‘Kasha’ or Cabinet of
Ministers consisting of four persons of which one is a monk and the three others are
lay men. The name of the monk is ‘Ramba’. The names of the three others are lay
men. The name of three others are 1. Surkang, 2. Kapshopa, 3. Lhalu. Within this
body again strong currents and cross currents of intrig are invoke but in all matters at
present British influence with the Regent and in the Kasha seems to be the decisive
factor. This influence works in devious ways. One of its ways is reported to be the
 practice of making impressive presents of all manner of manufactured goods
including fire arms to the men in authority. It is reported to be that a large stock of
rifles might be as many as 20,000 were thus made a present of in course of the last
year by the British to the Tibetans.
6. As a precursor to the stationing of the British troops at Moen it is reported that Major
Sheriff and Mr. Ludlow two Englishmen had visited that area on the pretext of
studying plant and animal lives. Mr. Basilgold was then the Political Officer at
Gangtok. I do not know whether he also accompanied these alleged explorers of plant
and life. It would seem that soon afterwards side selection had been done for
stationing the garrison at Moen according to verbal reports available. It may be of
interest also to enquire as to whether the death of the Ex-Regent in prison and some
sort of a ***** which took place in Tibet occurred before stationing of troops at
Moen or after this garrisoning had started. In either case some connexion between the
two would be palpable. In the absence of more definite and dependable information
one cannot but confined oneself to expressing conjecture.
7. This is of course known to External Affairs Ministry that on Bhutan initiative an idea
of a Tibetan Union was being sponsored about the same time. Such Tibetan Union
was to include Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet. Territorial claims on the Indian Union were
being inspired on the part of Sikkim and Bhutan. Even before the Radcliff’s award
had been made known it was made known in this region that the Darjeeling District
would be separated from the rest of the Province of the West Bengal. Gurkha League
movement in the Darjeeling District was also being inspired about the same time.
Then Deputy Commissioner an English man Mr. Creek played a part which calls for
very unfavourable comments from responsible local men in Darjeeling District and
Sikkim. I reliably understood that the letter of the Sikkim authorities addressed to
Lord Mountbatten claiming the District of Darjeeling for Sikkim was drafted,
amazing as it may seem, by India’s interest by English Officers of the GOI posted in
Darjeeling, Sikkim and Tibet.
8. Taking all things together there is reason to fear that there is some British plan to
sponsor some kind of a Tibetan Union pushing forward right into North Bengal in
time to come. The Political events of Tibet, the reported stationing of British troops at
Moen, claim inspired through Sikkim and Bhutan on territories of the Indian Union,
encouraging Bhutan and even Sikkim not to accede to the Indian Union, encouraging
all these may be parts of a connected plan and must call for the utmost vigilance and
appropriate and tactful action on the part of the Indian Union.
 D8311-NEF/49
c/o Girdharlal Tricamlal
71, Marine Drive *Girikunj*
Bombay, 28th Nov, 1949.
S. Karan Singh

The Secretary General

Foreign Affairs Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
New Delhi.

Dear Sir,
Re: TIBET
Reports appearing in papers have suddenly brought that, hitherto neglected, territory
to the fore front and India is vitally concerned with any development that might take place in
that remote region.
Events are moving fast and the advancing communist forces in China do not seem to
recognise the old treaty arrangements, whereby Tibet was recognised as complete
autonomous state both by the British govt and the Chinese authorities. The suzerainty of
China was recognised only on superfluous basis and the Tibetans enjoyed complete freedom.
Apart from making any cultural claims, which India can successfully do in order to
have a say in Tibetan Affairs, I wish here to emphasize stress only on points which are
necessary to ensure the time honoured securities of Indian territories on the northern borders.
India can not afford to have a potential enemy on her north with evil designs of hasty
expansion and unauthorised infiltration. Nepal, which has an expansive border-line in
common with Tibet, shall have to examine her position, stand and outlook in connection with
this new threat, which might develop any day into an active menace. India shall have to take
into account the difficulties of Nepal as might find it almost impossible to solve this problem
alone to a great extent when the threat becomes a reality.
 India should also do not be a silent spectator to this growing threat. With her present
world reputation she can very well afford to take not only a lively interest, but an active part
in keeping off the hands of ambitious communists. With world opinion in her favour she can
as well take a stand that the autonomous status of the Tibetan territories should not be
touched by any one and any breach on the part of Communist China shall not be tolerated.
India can not and shall not entertain territorial or other designs to annex or otherwise occupy
the lands of the Tibetans, but she shall not at the same time allow any other party more or less
the communists to usurp the same on any false pretexts.
There is not much time to lose as the communists are sure to make a move during the
next summer and it will be too late to think out plans or indulge in vague idealisms. Even a
plea to the UNO, if at all desirable, should be made before it is too late. It is well known to all
sensible men that communists are not an easy gang to deal with once they are out in action.
I am sure out foreign policy is not to be guided by actions of others but that our govt
shall make it a vital point to presuppose the movements of other parties and take necessary
actions themselves to demoralise the forces of evil designers before they become actually
menacing. I am confident that India shall get full support from all sensible quarters for any
movement to create a free land for the Tibetans. The forth coming foreign ministers’
conference can be a possible venue for further interested consultations, but preparations
should be started forthwith to carry out counter plans if things go against calculations.
I have voiced my opinion as an observer of international events and it should in no
way create prejudice in the minds of the authorities. Tibet is not an ordinary matter to be
overlooked; our future generations will curse us for any negligence that might jeopardise the
security of the country in the north. Communist designs on our land are not to be joked out
and in order to save our democratic principles we should better keep them at bay.
It is the vital duty of every citizen to put forward before his country’s govt whatever
he has to say in way of constructive suggestions- this is an attempt in that direction only. If
my view points are welcome and contribute in any way to solve our difficulties I shall think
this effort as worthy.
Thanking you and awaiting your response.
S. Karan Singh

High Commissioner for India

Canberra
 16th December, 1949.
My dear Menon (K.P.S Menon, Esquire, I.C.S, Foreign Sec to the Govt of India)
I send herewith a cutting from a newspaper regarding Tibet which you might find
interesting.
Daya Singh Bedi
*Picture clicked of the newspaper report*

No.F.35/1/49-PR. 23rd December 1949.

Dear Ministry,
We are enclosing herewith translation of an article about Tibet that appeared in
“Lidove Noviny” of Prague on 18th December, 1949.
This appears to be a poor condensation of, or extract from an article in the Moscow
“New Times” of 30th November, 1949.
Embassy of India
Prague
The Ministry of External Affairs,
Govt of India,
New Delhi.

An article by one T. Jersov entitled “Intrigues of Imperialists in Tibet” appears in

Lidove Noviny of December 18th. It says:-
“After the domination of India and Burma the English imperialists tried to penetrate
into Tibet. After the proclamation of “Independence” of India in 1947 England officially
handed over all her “rights and obligations” in Tibet to India. The British representative in
Lhasa has changed his title to “the representative of India”, although the principal of the
office has remained an Englishman, Richardson. In reality the Indian mission continues to be
a centre of espionage. It controls the economy of Tibet and all its relations with the outer
world.
In February 1949 an English paper “Daily Graphic” has revealed “that the plan for a
rescue of China from Communism is being worked out in the cloisters of Tibet”. This year on
July 8th the Govt of Tibet (Dalai Lama) has broken relations with the central Kuomintang
Govt of China. The Chinese broadcasting station in Lhasa was closed down as also Chinese
schools. All officials of the Chinese Govt and even Chinese citizens were told to leave the
Tibetan territory immediately as being under suspicion of “relations with Communism”.
Although the telegraph line joining Tibet with India was in order and the “Indian
Mission in Lhasa” was in communication with its Govt especially concerning the question of
passage of Chinese excommunicated citizens through Indian territory there did not appear
any news of these events in Tibet neither in Chinese nor in Indian press till 22 nd July. The
news, published later about an “overthrow” in Tibet, differed.
The Kuomintang govt has tried to confuse public opinion. It has circulated news that
this “overthrow had been inspired by communists”. But this slander “about a communistic
putch” was soon refuted. The plenipotentiary of Kuomintang govt for Tibet himself owned up
that this “overthrow” was the work of Tibetan authorities and not of communists. On 11 th
August Dalai Lama declared “religious war of Buddhists against communism”. At the end
even London Times openly owned up that this overthrow in Tibet was due to an ingenious
plan of the Govt of Tibet, namely to use this invention of a communistic putch in order to get
rid of Chinese control over Tibet. According to the “Statesman” the Govt of Tibet has availed
itself of the present situation to “free Tibet of Chinese supremany.”
It is quite clear that all this “overthrow” in Tibet was to prepare the ground for
imperialistic powers to recognise the “independence” of this territory from China so that the
imperialists could keep it in their hands after the fall of Kuomintang regime. This action of
the Govt of Tibet was prepared by a group of English agents headed by the “Indian”
representative in Lhasa, an Englishman Richardson. After the “overthrow” new English
agents like a “researcher-Tibetolog” Sprigg and “engineer” Reede arrived in Tibet. Already
on 27th July some British “responsible authorities” stated to a United Press agency
correspondent that Tibet would ask England for help in case “China tries to force its regime
on Tibet”. On 12th September the same agency announced that British representatives in the
Far East “hope that Tibet will look for help from Western democracies in case of
communistic aggression” and that “the English have a vital interest in Tibet” and they did not
wish the communists to enter there.
In the same article it is said that “an attempt could be made to help Tibet in the form
of a commercial agreement” and that “the United States will perhaps join in this plan to help
Tibet”.
Intervention of American imperialists in Tibetan business has the same impertinent
and mean character as English intrigues. At the beginning of August a group of Americans
headed by Lowell Thomas, an American radio-commentator, left Tibet and arrived in India.
This strange delegation had brought precious gifts to official personalities of Tibet.
The reaction of Tibetan people to the adventurous plans of imperialists were described
by Tya-Byao, a delegate of Tibet, at a political conference of China who said: “We warn the
English, American and Indian aggressors to give up instantly any plan for an invasion into
Tibet. If they dare to call further provocation they will meet with a well deserved
punishment”.
Extracts from the Fortnightly Report from the Indian Military Mission, Berlin No. 60, dated
1st December 1949.
25. About Tibet political circles speculate whether it will remain a barrier or become a bridge
to India for the infiltration of Communism. Brigadier Benson of the British Troops Berlin
recently stressed the danger of a section of the Tibetan people following the Tashi Lama into
alliance with Chinese Communism thus making Tibet over to civil turmoil. There is also the
danger of Communist infiltration into Nepal.
Copy of telegram dated 31st October, 1949, from Takdhag Pandit Hotuktu Regent of Tibet,
Lhasa, to Herald Gard United Press of London, New Delhi.
Reference your telegram of 13th and 30th September respectively regarding
Communist danger on the border of Tibet and your questions about our policy stop Tibet is
an independent country having spiritual as well as temporal administration and all the people
are leading a Religious Life stop Tibet has not much military experience as other nations and
we have no enimity with our neighbouring countries and we are a neutral country therefore I
hope that all nations would help us stop Our Policy is to faith in god and so we desire to
remain as before.