The Novoe Vremya, the leading paper of St. Petersburg, is
very indignant at the despatch of Colonel Younghusband to Thibet. The mission shows, says the journalist, that the British Government is preparing to make its influence felt in Lhassa, to the detriment of Russia, though the country belongs to Russia by the right of earlier exploration ! The claim is nonsensical, for by the same right the Portuguese might claim India, but it is worthy the notice orthe Foreign Office. Russian agents, often commissioned officers, are con- stantly making their appearance in Thibet, and some day may arrive at Lhassa armed with special treaties just arranged with Pekin. We always oppose the dog-in-the-manger policy in regard to Russia, but there are limits to expansion beyond which it becomes equivalent to assault. With Thibet comr pletely under Russian influence Bengal would not be defeneible, or defensible only by an outlay of millions a year.
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