Overview:
Tibet and Francis Younghusband
At the start of the 20th century, the British still considered Tibetans as a mysterious Buddhist society high in the mountains and nominally, under the control of China. The then viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, believed that Tibet was a threat to British interests. Even incursions into British border territory by herdsmen and their flocks, was an irritation enough to become a diplomatic incident.
Curzon told the India Office in London that according to a secret agent, Tibet had decided on war with India and were relying on Russian and Chinese support. Curzon's decided in 1902 to send an emissary, Major Francis Younghusband, to Lhasa to negotiate with the Dalai Lama (who anyway, by this time had fled into Mongolia) and establish a British legation. In London, Broderick, the India Secretary was wary of the scheme. Prime Minister, Balfour was equally sceptical and did not want to do anything that would further weaken relations with the Tsar.
In the summer of 1903 Younghusband, with a military force of about 200 Sikhs and large reinforcements coming up, crossed the border. They waited in Khamba Jong for what they expected to be a large Tibetan and Chinese representation. Although Younghusband met the Panchen Lama, others failed to show. By the time Younghusband moved on from Khamba Jong, he had more than 1000 British and Sikh soldiers, artillery and machine guns and, apparently, as many as 7,000 labourers. But winter had arrived early and they were now fighting the cold rather than Tibetans. In March 1904 the Younghusband expedition with reinforcements of cavalry, infantry and pioneers in support and commanded by Brigadier General James Macdonald, halted before the small township of Guru.
They were faced by 2000 Tibetan soldiers. A shot was fired - it was later said by the Tibetan commander. Macdonald's machine gunners opened up. The Tibetans walked forward as a mass into the machine gun fire. It was a massacre. Younghusband entered Lhasa on 2 August 1904. A month later he signed an agreement that gave the British trading advantages and excluded, in theory, others from Tibet.( bbc.co.uk),
Curzon told the India Office in London that according to a secret agent, Tibet had decided on war with India and were relying on Russian and Chinese support. Curzon's decided in 1902 to send an emissary, Major Francis Younghusband, to Lhasa to negotiate with the Dalai Lama (who anyway, by this time had fled into Mongolia) and establish a British legation. In London, Broderick, the India Secretary was wary of the scheme. Prime Minister, Balfour was equally sceptical and did not want to do anything that would further weaken relations with the Tsar.
In the summer of 1903 Younghusband, with a military force of about 200 Sikhs and large reinforcements coming up, crossed the border. They waited in Khamba Jong for what they expected to be a large Tibetan and Chinese representation. Although Younghusband met the Panchen Lama, others failed to show. By the time Younghusband moved on from Khamba Jong, he had more than 1000 British and Sikh soldiers, artillery and machine guns and, apparently, as many as 7,000 labourers. But winter had arrived early and they were now fighting the cold rather than Tibetans. In March 1904 the Younghusband expedition with reinforcements of cavalry, infantry and pioneers in support and commanded by Brigadier General James Macdonald, halted before the small township of Guru.
They were faced by 2000 Tibetan soldiers. A shot was fired - it was later said by the Tibetan commander. Macdonald's machine gunners opened up. The Tibetans walked forward as a mass into the machine gun fire. It was a massacre. Younghusband entered Lhasa on 2 August 1904. A month later he signed an agreement that gave the British trading advantages and excluded, in theory, others from Tibet.( bbc.co.uk),
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