The Attack on Tibet In the absence of all authoritative
news the situation in Tibet can -only be surmised. Earlier reports of Chinese progress, emanating mainly from the Peking radio, were clearly greatly exaggerated. News reaching Delhi, which apparently still enjoys free communica- tion with Lhasa, suggests that conditions there are normal, that the Dalai Lama has not left the capital and that the Chinese troops are still three hundred miles distant, 'impeded by the nature of the country and the nature of the weather. But one fact at least is incontestable, the appeal to the United Nations by the Tibetan mission now halted at Kalimpong in North-East India, when on its way to conduct negotiations at Peking. Precisely what authority the mission enjoys in such a matter as an appeal to the United Nations is not entirely clear, and it is to be noted that its repudiation of any Chinese suzerainty over Tibet is in contradiction of the British Government's recognition of such suzerainty. But these are legal points which can be discussed at Lake Success if the appeal ever gets .there, as it may if, as seems likely; it is sponsored by India. On the face of it naked and indefensible aggression has been committed, but 'the facts so far available are too scanty. to form a basis for dogmatic judgements. . .
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