NEWS OF THE WEEK.
DEPORTS of serious unrest in Tibet, and in particular 11! statements by trade agents that the Tibetans are not allowed by the Chinese to deal with them direct, have caused the Government to assume a watchful position on the Indian frontier. Two battalions of infantry and a battery of mountain artillery have been sent to Gantok. Those who never neglect an opportunity of urging a forward policy on the frontier argue that we ought at once to intervene between the Tibetans and Chinese. Sir Francis Younghusband argues thus with knowledge and ability in the Times of Wednesday. It is no doubt true that the Chinese have been steadily plotting ever since the British expedition of 1904 to resume their ancient hold upon Tibet. But though the Chinese have thrown dust our eyes with a skill which is all their own, we cannot see that we stand to gain anything like as much as we stand to lose by deliberately undertaking another campaign in Tibet. We are not therefore disposed to quarrel with Lord Crewe's announcement that the British troops will guard the trading stations at Yatnng and Gyantse, but will on no account intervene between the Chinese and the Tibetans. We would rather have the Chinese, whom we under- stand, as our responsible neighbours than the less calculable Tibetans. Why should we spend a large sum for the beaux yet= of the Tibetans P
