The Conference of Simla - Did the Chinese Let Tibet Get Away?

This is the document that both side of the Tibet debate often quote as one of the key defining documents that defines either Tibet's independence or it's status as part of China.   As to which it is, has been a subject of intense debate.

An outline of the main facts is provided on the 'A True Story' main page.   However, the events immediately preceding the conference are key to this.   

• A joint declaration between Britain and Tibet was made prior to the agreement, which stated that Britain would not recognise any Chinese involvement in Tibetan affairs, unless the Chinese agreed to the outline agreement.

• The Chinese did refuse to ratify the agreement.   Although Even Chen, the Tibet Pacification Commissioner, did mark the agreement with a cross, it was not his formal signature.   The Chinese refused to ratify the agreement on the basis that the Sino-Tibet boundary, in their view, was in the wrong place.   This is despite the fact that the agreement would have effectively made Tibet part of China, albeit with full autonomy.   In my opinion, China could have ratified the agreement and sorted out the boundary issue with Tibet later.

• In the view of pro-Tibet lobby, this brings into force the joint declaration making Tibet effectively an independent country.   My own opinion is that this cannot apply, as China is specifically excluded by this declaration.

• However, in 1910, the Chinese (or rather the Qing Government) invaded Tibet.   Within two years, the Tibetans drove them out, with the Chinese surrendering and Chinese troops having to leave via British ruled India.   Why drive the Chinese out and then accept their rule?

• More importantly, however, the Qing dynasty with which the Tibetans did have an overlord-junior partner relationship was not Chinese in origin, but Manchurian.   When this was overthrown in 1911 by the Chinese reformer Sun Yat Sen, it was effectively the removal of an occupying power from Chinese soil (the Qing dynasty came to power when a Manchurian army - not Chinese - overthrew the Chinese Ming dynasty).   It was a Manchurian government the Tibetans had this relationship with - this link was broken with the disappearance of this government.   This would mean that the Chinese Army driven out by the Tibetans, on the collapse of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, itself had become an occupying force (effectively an organisation that had lost it's authority).   Their removal and final withdrawal via India was thus the result of legitimate actions by the Tibetans, who now had no effective foreign ruler.

The last point especially in my opinion gives the pro-Tibet lobby the advantage in this argument, a point often overlooked by the pro-Chinese side.   By not ratifying the Conference of Simla agreement, they in effect, let Tibet go - they thus became an independent entity.

To add to the confusion, the Tibetans and Chinese appear to have presented their own texts at the conference, each as expected worded in their own favour.   The Tibetans seem to have tacitly accepted the Conference of Simla text along with the British.   But the question has to be asked, is the below text that which was accepted or was a more pro-Tibetan document presented to Chinese Tibet Pacification Commissioner, which he was pressured to accept and was ultimately rejected by the Chinese?   As in my opinion, the legal arguments seem to go in favour of the Tibetans, so if this happened, why?   I have to be prepared to admit that this would make for some very strange behaviour from the British and Tibetan sides, despite my pro-Tibetan stance.

That said, the actual meaningfulness of the conference has also been questioned by some pro-Tibetan elements, on the basis of the 'Qing - Tibetan' relationship being Manchurian rather than Chinese one, thus the actual status of an independent Tibet was not in question.   Only the border was a matter of debate.

The 1950 seventeen point agreement was imposed by the use of force by the Chinese against Tibet, thus in itself is illegal.   The conclusion I myself reach from this is that China is therefore an illegal occupying power (despite what may have been strange goings-on at Simla), the actions of which in Tibet, go against the stated Chinese policy of not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

Text of the Convention between Great Britain, China and Tibet, initialled at Simla, 27 April 1914

His Majesty the King of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, His Excellency the President of the Republic of China, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet, being sincerely desirous to settle by mutual agreement various questions concerning the interests of their several States on the Continent of Asia, and further to regulate the relations of their several Governments, have resolved to conclude a Convention on this subject and have nominated for this purpose their respective plenipotentiaries, that is to say:

His Majesty the King of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, the Hon'ble Sir Arthur Henry McMahon, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign and Political Department;

His Excellency the President of the Republic of China, Monsieur Ivan Chen, Officer of the Order of the Chia Ho;

His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet, Lönchen Ga-den Shatra Pal-jor Dorje; who having communicated to each other their respective full powers and finding them to be in good and due form have agreed upon and concluded the following Convention in eleven Articles:

Article I

The Conventions specified in the Schedule to the present Convention shall, except in so far as they may have been modified by, or may be inconsistent with or repugnant to, any of the provisions of the present Convention, continue to be binding upon the High Contracting Parties.

Article II

The Governments of Great Britain and China recognizing that Tibet is under the suzerainty of China, and recognizing also the autonomy of Outer Tibet, engage to respect the territorial integrity of the country, and to abstain from all interference in the administration of Outer Tibet (including the selection and installation of the Dalai Lama), which shall remain in the hands of the Tibetan Government at Lhasa.

The Govermnent of China engages not to convert Tibet into a Chinese province. The Government of Great Britain engages not to annex Tibet or any portion of it.

Article III

Recognising the special interest of Great Britain, in virtue of the geographical position of Tibet, in the existence of an effective Tibetan Government, and in the maintenance of peace and order in the neighbourhood of the frontiers of India and adjoining States, the Government of China engages, except as provided in Article 4 of this Convention, not to send troops into Outer Tibet, nor to station civil or military officers, nor to establish Chinese colonies in the country. Should any such troops or officials remain in Outer Tibet at the date of the signature of this Convention, they shall be withdrawn within a period not exceeding three months.

The Government of Great Britain engages not to station military or civil officers in Tibet (except as provided in the Convention of September 7, 1904, between Great Britain and Tibet) nor troops (except the Agents' escorts), nor to establish colonies in that country.

Article IV

The foregoing Article shall not be held to preclude the continuance of the arrangement by which, in the past, a Chinese high official with suitable escort has been maintained at Lhasa, but it is hereby provided that the said escort shall in no circumstances exceed 300 men.

Article V

The Governments of China and Tibet engage that they will not enter into any negotiations of agreements regarding Tibet with one another, or with any other Power, excepting such negotiations and agreements between Great Britain and Tibet as are provided for by the Convention of September 7, 1904, between Great Britain and Tibet and the Convention of April 27, 1906, between Great Britain and China.

Article VI

Article III of the Convention of April 27, 1906, between Great Britain and China is hereby cancelled, and it is understood that in Article IX(d) of the Convention of September 7, 1904, between Great Britain and Tibet the term 'Foreign Power' does not include China.

No less favourable treatment shall be accorded to British commerce than to the commerce of China or the most favoured nation.

Article VII

1. The Tibet Trade Regulations of 1893 and 1908 are hereby cancelled.

2. The Tibetan Government engages to negotiate with the British Government new Trade Regulations for Outer Tibet to give effect to Articles II, IV and V of the Convention of September 7, 1904, between Great Britain and Tibet without delay; provided always that such Regulations shall in no way modify the present Convention except with the consent of the Chinese Government.

Article VIII

The British Agent who resides at Gyantse may visit Lhasa with his escort whenever it is necessary to consult with the Tibetan Government regarding matters arising out of the Convention of September 7, 1904, between Great Britain and Tibet, which it has been found impossible to settle at Gyantse by correspondence or otherwise.

Article IX

For the purpose of the present Convention the borders of Tibet, and the boundary between Outer and Inner Tibet, shall be shown in red and blue respectively on the map attached hereto.

Nothing in the present Convention shall be held to prejudice the existing rights of the Tibetan Government in Inner Tibet, which include the power to select and appoint the high priests of monasteries and to retain full control in all matters affecting religious institutions.

Article X

In case of differences between the Governments of China and Tibet in regard to questions arising out of this Convention the aforesaid Governments engage to refer them to the British Government for equitable adjustment.

Article XI

The present Convention will take effect from the date of signature. The English, Chinese and Tibetan texts of the present Convention have been carefully examined and found to correspond, but in the event of there being any difference of meaning between them the English text shall be authoritative.

In token whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed and sealed this Convention, three copies in English, three in Chinese and three in Tibetan.

Done at Simla this 27th day of April, A.D. one thousand nine hundred and fourteen.

Initials and seals of Sir H. McMahon, Chen I-fan, The Lönchen Shatra.

Schedule

1. Convention between Great Britain and China relating to Sikkim and Tibet, signed at Calcutta the 17th March 1890.

2. Convention between Great Britain and Tibet, signed at Lhasa the 7th September 1904.

3. Convention between Great Britain and China respecting Tibet, signed at Peking the 27th April 1906.

The notes exchanged are to the following effect:

1. It is understood by the High Contracting Parties that Tibet forms part of Chinese territory.

2. After the selection and installation of the Dalai Lama by the Tibetan Government, the latter will notify the installation to the Chinese Government, whose representative at Lhasa will then formally communicate to His Holiness the titles consistent with his dignity, which have been conferred by the Chinese Government.

3. It is also understood that the selection and appointment of all officers in Outer Tibet will rest with the Tibetan Government.

4. Outer Tibet shall not be represented in the Chinese Parliament or in any other similar body.

5. It is understood that the escorts attached to the British Trade Agencies in Tibet shall not exceed seventy-five per centum of the escort of the Chinese Representative at Lhasa.

6. The Government of China is hereby released from its engagements under Article III of the Convention of March 17, 1890, between Great Britain and China, to prevent acts of aggression from the Tibetan side of the Tibet-Sikkim frontier.

7. The Chinese high official referred to in Article IV will be free to enter Tibet as soon as the terms of Article III have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of representatives of the three signatories to this Convention, who will investigate and report without delay.

Initials and seals of Sir H. McMahon, Chen I-fan, The Lönchen Shatra.

Declaration appended to the 3 July 1914 text of the Simla Convention.

We, the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain and Tibet, hereby record the following Declaration to the effect that we acknowledge the annexed Convention as initialled to be binding on the Governments of Great Britain and Tibet, and we agree that so long as the Government of China withholds signature to the aforesaid Convention, she will be debarred from the enjoyment of all privileges accruing therefrom.

In token whereof we have signed and sealed this Declaration, two copies in English and two in Tibetan.

Done at Simla this third day of July, A.D. one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, corresponding with the Tibetan date, the tenth day of the fifth month of the Wood-Tiger year.

 - Seal of the Dalai Lama

 - A. HENRY MCMAHON, British Plenipotentiary

 - Signature and seal of the Lönchen Shatra

 - Seal of the British Plenipotentiary

 - Seal of the Drepung Monastery

 - Seal of the Sera Monastery

 - Seal of the Gaden Monastery

 - Seal of the National Assembly

From: Alastair Lamb, The McMahon Line. Vol. II. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1966, 620-625.

Also:

• Seventeen Point Agreement (1951)