On July 30, 1904 (the 15th day of the sixth month of Tibetan calendar), four days prior to the British attack at Lhasa, the 13th Dalai Lama hastily appointed Gandain Chiba Lobsang Gyaincain as the Prince Regent, while he left Lhasa secretly together with a small number of his men. The party reached Kulun (Ulan Bator) in Outer Mongolia in November via northern Tibet, Qinghai and Gansu. While away from Lhasa, the 13th Dalai Lama never forgot to carry the seal of authority bestowed on him by the Qing emperor, showing he set great store by this symbol of power.

After the two aggressive wars, Britain found that Tibet could not be subdued by military force. It changed tactics by cultivating pro-British elements in the upper echelon of the ruling class in Tibet, with a view to controlling Tibet.

While the 13th Dalai Lama was away, the British did everything possible to win over the 9th Panchen Erdeni. On his way back to India from Lhasa, Younghusband planted Ekangno in Gyangze in the capacity of commercial attache. Ekangmo, who had a good command of Tibetan and was well acquainted with the Tibetan areas, was actually left to work on the 9th Panchen Erdeni. In September 1905 (the 31st year of Emperor Guangxu's reign), Ekangmo led some 50 British troops to Xigaze, where he visited the 9th Panchen Erdeni unexpectedly. In a tone which brooked no negotiation, S. O'Connor said that a grand gathering would be held in India that year, and the British crown prince, who would be there, had expressed a desire to meet the 9th Panchen Erdeni. The latter was urged to leave for India before October. The 9th Panchen Erdeni replied that the High Commissioner would have to file a report with the emperor regarding the proposed visit, as his consent would be necessary. However, S. O'Connor persisted that he had received a letter from India; the 9th Panchen Erdeni should go. Faced with this situation, the 9th Panchen Erdeni and Tibetan government officials in Rear Tibet reported the matter to the High Commissioner You Tai. He replied that the 9th Panchen Erdeni should not go without imperial consent. S. O'Connor warned the 9th Panchen Erdeni that if he refused to go to India, the British would be offended. Reading between lines, one understands this to mean that the British would send troops to invade Xigaze if the 9th Panchen Erdeni refused to go. The latter left for India on October 12. The Qing imperial court advised the High Commissioner right away: "The Indian government, taking advantage of the 13th Dalai Lama's absence, sent people into Tibet to lure the 9th Panchen Erdeni to India. He was made to go there on the excuse of meeting the British crown prince but, as a matter of fact, it was their plan to dismiss the 13th Dalai Lama in order to gain control of Tibet" (Selected Materials on the History of Tibet, p.222). The 9th Panchen Erdeni made a stopover in Yadong while on his way to India. According to a Qing official stationed in Bebitang (Jingxi), "S. O'Connor sent cavalrymen to escort him" (Ya Hanzhang: Biography of the Panchen Erdeni, p.212) Zhang Yingtang, the Qing Imperial Commissioner, was then in India on his way to Tibet. He reported to the imperial court: "It was reported that the Indian government is prepared to order the Panchen to ask the British to support Tibetan independence and provide protection for Tibet. If he returns to Tibet to announce that China is not able to administer Tibet, Tibet will have no way out but to declare independence." (Ya Hanzhang: Biography of the Dalai Lama, p.157 ) From this one sees the British effort to make the 9th Panchen Erdeni to go to India was closely associated with its attempt for "Tibetan independence."

When the 9th Panchen Erdeni reached India, the British offered him handsome gifts, but he was unmoved. When he went to visit the British crown prince, S. O'Connor demanded that the 9th Panchen Erdeni kowtow. However, he refused by saying: "I kowtow only to the Grand Emperor." He greeted the British crown prince by cupping his hands in front of his chest in a traditional way. The Board of Foreign Affairs of the Qing imperial court informed Zhang Yingtang and the British governor in India: "It is acceptable for the Panchen to go to India for the meeting. If he is forced to intervene with Tibetan affairs and made to sign and stamp any documents, all will be as invalid as waste paper." (Ya Hanzhang: Biography of the Panchen Erdeni, p.212) As the Qing imperial court held a staunch attitude, and as the 9th Panchen Erdeni refused to obey, the British were obliged to let him return to Xigaze in December. But this was not the end of it. The British continued to make efforts to win over the 9th Panchen Erdeni, but he maintained a perfunctory attitude and made no promises.

The British achieved no major results in winning over the 9th Panchen. They turned instead to buying over people of the 13th Dalai Lama group. At that time, the 13th Dalai Lama was out of Tibet, leaving behind a chaotic government system to handle local affairs. British commercial attaches in Gyangze and Yadong were ordered to have frequent contacts with upper-ruling-class people, offering them gifts. They were given convenience and benefits in trade with the British in Yadong and Gyangze, persuading them to see the British as the source of economic income. All these were aimed at turning them into British agents in Tibet. During this period, the British succeeded in winning over a number of people headed by Xazha Benjor Doje. These people, the earliest pro-British elements in Tibet, played an effective role in British efforts to rope in the 13th Dalai Lama.

When the 13th Dalai Lama reached Outer Mongolia, the Qing imperial court sent an imperial commissioner from Beijing to Kulun to ask after him. The imperial commissioner brought him gifts from Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu. The 13th Dalai Lama accepted these gifts and thanked the empress dowager and the emperor by kowtowing in the direction of Beijing. (Chronicles of the 13th Dalai Lama, Vol. 11, p.81 Selected Materials on the History of Tibet) In September 1905, the Qing imperial court urged the 13th Dalai Lama to return to Tibet, and in December, the Gaxag government of Tibet sent people to Kulun on the same mission. The 13th Dalai Lama then left Kulun in April 1906 (the 32nd year of Emperor Guangxu's reign). He crossed the Mongolian and Gansu border and reached the Tar Monastery in Huangzhong County, Qinghai, in September. He stayed in the monastery temporarily. At that time, the Qing imperial court was pressing ahead with its "new government policy" geared to revitalize the nation. Acting in accordance with this policy, the newly appointed High Commissioner Lian Yu and Banbai Minister Zhang Yingtang made preparations for the implementation of the new policy in Tibet. This move called for efforts to stem the British forces from invading Tibet and ensure China's continued sovereignty over Tibet. However, it had its negative side. Qing Banbai Minister Feng Quan, stationed in Tibet, decided that, in view of the fact the headman of Zhandui (present-day Xinlong County of the Garze Tibetan Nationality Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province) in the Kam area had fought Qing troops for years, the headman system should be transformed by making the position of the headman an appointed one (in the past it had been hereditary). This move touched off strong opposition from the Tibetan upper ruling class in the Kam areas, culminating in the killing of Feng Quan in Batang. The Qing imperial court sent Zhao Erfeng to suppress the revolt. He later was promoted to the post of Commissioner of Sichuan and Yunnan Borderland Affairs. Given the unstable situation in Tibet and the Kam area, the 13th Dalai Lama stayed in the Tar Monastery for one more year on instruction of the Qing imperial court.

During Zhang Yingtang's stay in Tibet, the 9th Panchen Erdeni requested permission to visit Beijing to report to the emperor on "matters concerning Tibet." When the Gaxag government of Tibet learned this, it got in touch with Zhang Yingtang pleading permission for the 13th Dalai Lama to travel to Beijing to report on Tibetan affairs. Considering that a Beijing visit by the two Buddhist masters would benefit relations between the local government of Tibet and the imperial court, Zhang submitted a report to Emperor Guangxu in 1907 (the 33rd year of his reign), pleading for permission for the double visit. The imperial court issued an edict in November the same year, announcing an invitation to the 13th Dalai Lama to visit Beijing in two steps: As the first step, he would go from the Tar Monastery to Lanzhou, Xi'an and finally Wutaishan Mountain in Shanxi where he was supposed to worship Buddha; as the second step, he would go from Wutaishan Mountain to Beijing via Hebei. Upon receipt of the imperial edict, the 13th Dalai Lama set out from the Tar Monastery and reached Wutaishan Mountain in January 1908 (the 34th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign). He stayed in the Buddhist mountain for over half a year.

The 13th Dalai Lama broadened his vision while away from Tibet. During the period from his stay in the Tar Monastery to his stay in the Wutaishan Mountain, he was ambivalent toward his situation. Firstly, his plan to seek support from Czarist Russia for his return to Tibet failed because the former was defeated in war with Japan; secondly, when the Qing emperor sent people to look after him, offer him gifts and invite him to Beijing, he felt the warmth of the motherland. Given the corruption of the Qing imperial court, however, he lacked confidence in it; thirdly, the signing of the Treaty of Peking between China and Britain in 1906 indicated the Qing imperial court's basic consent for the contents of the Treaty of Lhasa signed between Tibet and Britain in 1904. This indicated a legal British invasion of Tibet. Under the situation, if the 13th Dalai Lama wanted to return home, he would have to ease tension with Britain. Toward the end of 1907, the 13th Dalai Lama told the Tibetan officials, who went on a special visit to meet him in Xi'an, that pro-British Galoon Xazha Benjor Doje, Galoon Qamqen Ngawang Baisang and Galoon Xoikang Cedain Wangqug be promoted to the posts of Lunqen, a position which was higher than Galoon, to assist the Prince Regent Gandain Chiba in government affairs. Giving promotion to the three pro-British elements indicated that the 13th Dalai Lama wavered in his attitude toward the British invasion.

When the 13th Dalai Lama reached Wutaishan Mountain, Beijing-based diplomatic envoys of the United States, Russia, Japan and Germany visited him. According to the book written by Younghusband, during the 13th Dalai Lama's stay in Wutaishan Mountain, he sent people to Beijing, bringing a letter to John Jordan, the British minister in China. John Jordan told the visiting Tibetan envoy that there was improvement in the relations between India and Tibet; and that these had been undermined in 1904 entirely due to misunderstanding. The Tibetan envoy explained that the past misunderstanding resulted from people who misled the 13th Dalai Lama so that he failed to have a good understanding of the truth; now the 13th Dalai Lama knew all and would mend fences with India upon return to Tibet (Francis Younghusband [Britain]: India and Tibet, p. 288, translated by Sun Xichu). However, when the 13th Dalai Lama went to Beijing for a face-to-face report on his plan to rely on the imperial court to settle pending issues, he made no change in his attitude which was demonstrated by his activities in Beijing.

In accordance with the arrangement made by the Qing imperial court, the 13th Dalai Lama went from Wutaishan Mountain to Beijing on September 27, 1908. He was put up at Huangsi Monastery. The Qing imperial court held a grand ceremony in his honor, and Empress Dowager Ci Xi and Emperor Guangxu met with the Living Buddha repeatedly. They entertained him with feasts and granted him a golden certificate of appointment inscribed with the text: "Loyal and Submissive Great Benevolent Self-Subsisting Buddha of Western Paradise." He was also given very handsome gifts, and told in explicit terms that the Dalai Lama would continue to hold the power to handle all religious affairs in Tibet and everything should be done in accordance with the will of the Dalai Lama. The Qing imperial court also told him he would receive 10,000 teals of silver from the court every year. The 13th Dalai Lama expressed sincere thanks for all these things. He also presented gifts to Empress Dowager Ci Xi to the latter's satisfaction. The 13th Dalai Lama and his party stayed in Beijing for over two months. The Qing imperial court earmarked more than 180,000 taels of silver to cover his stay. During this period, both Empress Dowager Ci Xi and Emperor Guangxu died, and Emperor Xuantong came to the throne. The 13th Dalai Lama conducted Buddhist activities for the dead, and also recited Buddhist scriptures for Emperor Xuantong to ascend the throne. (Chronicles of the 13th Dalai Lama, Vol.11, p.108 Selected Materials on the History of Tibet) The above shows harmonious atmosphere during the 13th Dalai Lama's stay in Beijing. However, two problems cropped up that deepened the 13th Dalai Lama's dissatisfaction and disappointment with the Qing imperial court: First were the rituals for him to pay homage to the Empress Dowager and the emperor. The Qing imperial court insisted that the 13th Dalai Lama kneel down to kowtow to Empress Dowager Ci Xi and Emperor Guangxu. The 13th Dalai Lama expressed dissatisfaction, and the Qing imperial court made some compromise. Nonetheless, the 13th Dalai Lama was still requested to kneel down and he forced himself to do so. Secondly, the 13th Dalai Lama told Empress Dowager Ci Xi and Emperor Guangxu that many work had been delayed as everything had to be reported to the court through the High Commissioner. But since Tibet was of great importance to the court, there was no need to make reports exclusively through the High Commissioner, and the Dalai Lama himself should have the power to report to the emperor directly; this change would be good for the Han and the Tibetan to jointly defend Tibet. But the Qing imperial court refused consent and insisted that Tibet should continue to report political affairs through the High Commissioner and wait patiently for the results. (Ya Hanzhang: Biography of the Dalai Lama, p.185) The 13th Dalai Lama was disappointed at this decision, increasing his misunderstanding of the imperial court and throwing a wet blanket over his enthusiasm for joint struggle against the British invasion.

The British didn't forget to draw the 13th Dalai Lama over to its side even when he was in Beijing. While John Jordan paid a special visit to him, S. O'Connor, the British commercial attache in Gyangze, and the Prince of Sikkim went together to Beijing to visit him. They were glad to find that it would be hard for the 13th Dalai Lama to go back to Tibet if he failed to win British support, because Czarist Russia was not dependable and the Qing imperial court was weak and incompetent. John Jordan hinted in a threatening tone that the British attitude toward the 13th Dalai Lama's return to Tibet depended on his attitude toward Britain. To this, the 13th Dalai Lama told the British monarch through John Jordan that it was not his intention to see unhappy events which had occurred in the past, and he sincerely wished to see Tibet and India upholding the spirit of ever-lasting peace and friendship. (Francis Younghusband [Britain]: India and Tibet, p.289, translated by Sun Xichu) This shows the 13th Dalai Lama's change in attitude toward Britain.

The 13th Dalai Lama left Beijing for Tibet in November 1908 in a disappointed mood. Lunqen Qamqen Ngawang Baisang made a special trip from Lhasa to Beijing to greet his return. The 13th Dalai Lama sent his men to say good-bye to John Jordan before leaving Beijing, saying that his presence there had led to the restoration of Tibet's long-standing ties with China and made it possible for him to make explanations to the British government delegation; so long as Tibet was able to stick to the signed agreement in the future, Tibet and India would certainly be able to maintain friendship. The British side held that this attitude constituted the most valuable achievement of the 13th Dalai Lama's visit to Beijing. (Francis Younghusband [Britain]: India and Tibet, p.290, translated by Sun Xichu) The above shows that the 13th Dalai Lama was eager to improve ties with Britain, and that the British efforts to win him over had paid off.

The 13th Dalai Lama reached the Tar Monastery in Qinghai in early 1909 (the first year of Emperor Xuantong's reign). During this period of time, Qing High Commissioner Lian Yu and some others were working hard to implement the new policy for governing Tibet, a policy which was set forth by Zhang Yingtang. This policy called for efforts to develop economy, improve communications and create newspapers. Although these were good for the Tibetans, they were coupled with efforts to strengthen the role of the High Commissioner which aimed to deprive the Dalai Lama of his power to rule Tibet, and make Tibetan children study Han Chinese. This touched off discontent from among the Tibetans and the upper ruling class. To cope with the situation, Lian Yu asked the Qing court to send Sichuan troops into Tibet. All these happened when Zhao Erfeng were sending Han officials to rule other Tibetan areas, depriving the power of local headmen and lamaseries and suppressing the Tibetans who rose to say "No" to them.

While staying there temporarily, he wrote a letter to the Hotogtu Living Buddha Canggya: "The troops of Zhao (Erfeng) destroyed monasteries and killed lamas in the Kam area, rendering locals homeless. Such things are still taking place in the Qamdo area. High Commissioners Zhang (Yingtang) and Lian (Yu) are stubborn and often exaggerate to hoodwink the emperor. They have made several reports demanding organization of an army of some 1,000 men in Sichuan. In order to prevent such an event from creating trouble among the Han and the Tibetan peoples, I, Siloon and the 詐eople's assembly" once wrote a letter to explain the true situation....They cheated the emperor in the past, and are still telling lies today." (Chronicles of the 13th Dalai Lama, Vol.11, p.110 Selected Materials on the History of Tibet) This shows the 13th Dalai Lama was very much concerned with the situation in the Kam area.

On the 15th day of the fourth month of Tibetan calendar (1909), the 13th Dalai Lama set out for Tibet from the Tar Monastery, and reached Nagqu in northern Tibet on the third day of the eighth month of Tibetan calendar. At this point, Qing troops led by Zong Ying had left Sichuan for Tibet. They destroyed monasteries and persecuted the Tibetans along the way from Qamdo to Lhasa. The Qing imperial court appointed Zhao Erfeng the High Commissioner and concurrently Commissioner of Sichuan and Yunnan Borderland Affairs. This was meant to exercise unified rule over the Kam and Tibetan areas. Before long, the Qing imperial court planned the establishment of Xikang Province to consolidate achievements in making the position of the headman an appointed not hereditary one. Sichuan troops' entry into Tibet and the appointment of Zhao Erfeng as High Commissioner combined to add to the suspicion of the 13th Dalai Lama and led to further worsening of relations between the Qing imperial court and the upper ruling class of Tibet. Many Tibetans worried that Zhao Erfeng's presence in Tibet would lead to the change of the local headman system in U-Tsang (as in the Kam area), as the change was highly like to end not only the power enjoyed by the nobles and monasteries but also the ruling position of the 13th Dalai Lama. The 13th Dalai Lama ordered Lunqen Xazha Benjor Doje to summon Tibetan troops and militiamen for deployment in the Kam area to stem the incoming Sichuan troops. While on the march from Nagqu to Lhasa, the 13th Dalai Lama sent people to contact the British commercial attache in Gyangze and ask him to send cables to British and Russian ambassadors in Beijing, requesting their respective governments to lodge protests against the Qing imperial court and demand withdrawal of Sichuan troops from Tibet. In the meantime, the British commercial attache was also requested to cable the Qing imperial court, protesting against its suppression of Tibetans. When the 13th Dalai Lama reached the Painbo Darlung Monastery, which is a three-day-trip distance north of Lhasa, he sent people to deliver his letter to the British ambassador in Beijing via India. In it, he said: "I have a loving feeling for the British Indian government. Now I am close to Lhasa. I have been told of and am deeply worried about the pervasive action of the Chinese army in Tibet. In the future, whenever there is necessity, I yearn for support from the British ambassador. (Francis Younghusband [Britain]: India and Tibet, p.291, translated by Sun Xichu)

On the sixth day of the 11th month of the Tibetan calendar (in 1909), the 13th Dalai Lama returned to his Purburjoi mediation room in the northern suburb of Lhasa. Xazha, Qamqen and Xoikang went to present hada scarves. The 13th Dalai Lama officially appointed them Lunqen officials in charge of the Tibetan government affairs. The first group of pro-British elements in the upper ruling class of Tibet thus came to power.

On the ninth day of the 11th month of Tibetan calendar, the 13th Dalai Lama returned to the Potala Palace after a separation of more than five years and to the warm welcome of the broad masses of Tibetan monks and lay people. Qing High Commissioner Lian Yu and other Qing officials in Lhasa went to greet him, but the 13th Dalai Lama cold-shouldered them. High Commissioner Lian Yu was highly indignant and later went to investigate in the Potala Palace on the excuse that the 13th Dalai Lama had smuggled Russian weapons into Tibet. But he found nothing he wanted. Then, he sent people to check the luggage of the 13th Dalai Lama in Nagqu, but they found no weapons. The 13th Dalai Lama adopted retaliatory measures by halting the supply of firewood, food grain, labor and postal services to the High Commissioner. Relations between the two sides went from bad to worse.

On the 11th day of the 11th month of Tibetan calendar, the 13th Dalai Lama received the "newly-made gold seal of authority" which Xazha and others gave him in the name of all monks and lay people in Tibet. It bore the inscription of "Authorized by the Founder of Buddhism in the Holy Land," which means Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, had presented the seal of authority to the Dalai Lama, the highest Buddhist leader under Heaven. The move was designed to supersede the gold seal of authority bestowed on the Dalai Lama by the Qing emperor, and constituted an important step of Xazha and some other pro-British elements in the upper ruling class of Tibet toward "Tibetan independence." Although the move exerted great influence on the 13th Dalai Lama, he still pinned his hope on the Qing imperial court to settle Tibet's internal problems.

The Sichuan troops headed by Zong Ying routed Tibetan troops who put up resistance in areas to the west of Qamdo. In February 1910 (the second year of Emperor Xuantong's reign), they reached Gongbo'gyamda. On February 12, the Sichuan troops entered Lhasa. It was the third day of the first month of Tibetan calendar, and the traditional Grand Summons Ceremony was being held. Lian Yu sent his guards to line up in honor of this ill-disciplined Sichuan army. Lian Yu's guards, thinking they had support from the Sichuan army, beat government officials and fired at the Tibetan army. One grand lama was killed. Lian Yu's guards also fired at the Jokhang Monastery and the Potala Palace where the 13th Dalai Lama lived, throwing the whole city into chaos.

The 13th Dalai Lama decided at dusk that same day that Gandain Chiba Living Buddha Cemoinling should serve as the Prince Regent to stay in Lhasa together with the bulk of government officials headed by Galoon Charung Wangqug Gyaibo, while the 13th Dalai Lama himself left Lhasa, where he had only returned two months before. Departing at night, at the head of a small number of government officials including Xazha, Xoikang and Qamqen, he traveled southwest. When Lian Yu heard the news, he sent troops who caught up with them at the Gyasang Ferry by the Yarlung Zangbo River west of Quxu. Bodyguards of the 13th Dalai Lama managed to call Tibetan troops from Dasang Zhamdui. They fought the Qing troops at the ferry for two days, killing some and making it possible for the 13th Dalai Lama to leave safely. He and his party reached Yadong via the Yamzhog Sangding Monastery and Pagri, and moved directly to the residence of Macdonald, the British commercial attache in Yadong. When the Qing troops hurried to Pagri, the 13th Dalai Lama, persuaded and assisted by the British, left Yadong and eventually China in late February 1910, finally reaching Darjeeling via Sikkim.

Although the 13th Dalai Lama left China for India, he did have the intention of going to Beijing to seek a solution. The Qing imperial court, persuaded by reports from High Commissioner Lian Yu in Tibet, removed the honorific title from the 13th Dalai Lama and decided to look for his soul boy replacement. This erroneous decision on the part of the Qing imperial court touched off widespread discontent among Tibetans in Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan and Inner and Outer Mongolia. The 13th Dalai Lama called off his plan to go to Beijing. Before long, Lian Yu sent an official named Lu Changqi to India. There, Lu met with the 13th Dalai Lama, trying to persuade him to return to Tibet. The 13th Dalai Lama told Lu drily: "I came to Darjeeling with the intention of sailing to Beijing. Since my title has been removed, I have no reason to go." (Ya Hanzhang: Biography of the Panchen Erdeni, pp.218-219)

Finally, the 13th Dalai Lama fell into the hands of the British. The British Indian Foreign Ministry dispatched Charles Bell to visit him at Darjeeling, and invited him to go to Calcutta. The British Indian governor also met with the 13th Dalai Lama, who pleaded for British protection and invited the British to help fight the Qing troops in Tibet.

The British were pleased. But, as Britain and Russia were busy with joint efforts against the newly-rising power of Germany and were restricted by the 1907 Anglo-Russian Treaty which recognized China's suzerainty over Tibet, Britain could make no promise to the 13th Dalai Lama. Instead, it announced that it would stay away from Tibetan affairs and adopt a neutral attitude. Quietly, however, Britain showed unusual warmth to the 13th Dalai Lama. Firstly, Britain arranged for him to visit various parts of India; then, Britain made arrangement for him to settle in Darjeeling, providing him with free rooms and articles of daily use. Charles Bell, who was a "Tibet hand," visited him almost every week in the first three or four months; sometimes, he visited the 13th Dalai Lama once a week; often, the 13th Dalai Lama would say with a smile that he had not seen Charles Bell for a long period of time if he failed to visit him. (Charles Bell [Britain]: Biography of the 13th Dalai Lama, p. 92, translated by Feng Qiyou) This shows Charles Bell worked very hard to win the 13th Dalai Lama over to the British side. During his stay in Darjeeling, the 13th Dalai Lama established his Gaxag government of Tibet, which, through close contacts with Tibetan officials in Tibet, controlled to certain extent the government affairs there. The presence of the 13th Dalai Lama and the Gaxag government of Tibet in Darjeeling made it convenient for the British to plot "Tibetan independence" which was geared to tearing Tibet away from China and subjecting Tibet to British protection.

Not long after the 13th Dalai Lama had settled down in Darjeeling, the British, under the excuse that the Tibetan situation was precarious, sent troops to Natang south of the Zhelilha mountain pass with a view to protecting the British commercial attaches in Gyangze and Yadong. This move was meant to protect the 13th Dalai Lama from being attacked by the Qing troops in Tibet. The Qing troops, on their own part, advanced to Gyangze, Yadong and Pagri to defend the order. Thus, the British and Qing troops confronted each other on the Tibetan-Sikkim border.

The above facts show that the British was absolutely not following a neutral policy of non-intervention. It still worked for "Tibetan independence." In the beginning, it endeavored to hide its real intention. On the eve of the "Simla Conference," however, it jumped out into the open to try to turn its intention into the reality.

According to Van Praag, when the 13th Dalai Lama had reached India, he said he had severed all of ties with the Manchurians. This does not conform with reality. When the Qing imperial court said it would change its policy with regard to administration over Tibet, dismiss High Commissioner Zhao Erfeng from office and invite the 13th Dalai Lama to return to Tibet, the 13th Dalai Lama made three proposals: First, restore the title of the Dalai Lama; second, pull the Sichuan army out of Tibet; and third, dismiss Lian Yu from his office. The Qing imperial court refused to accept the second and third proposals, and the talks between both sides ended in failure, and the 13th Dalai Lama refused to go home. In September 1910, Lu Changqi, a Qing official whom Lian Yu sent to greet the 13th Dalai Lama in Darjeeling, forwarded a report stamped by the 13th Dalai Lama to the Qing imperial court (Chronicles of the 13th Dalai Lama, Vol.11, p.120 Selected Materials on the History of Tibet). This shows the 13th Dalai Lama, though in India then, still managed to contact the Qing imperial court. Ideologically, he was not entirely away from the motherland. He was merely working against the wrong policy of the corrupt Qing imperial court in a proper way. He was different from Xazha Benjor Doje who had entirely stood on the British side and advocated "Tibetan independence."

Following its success in making the 13th Dalai Lama settle down and conduct "Tibetan independence" activities in India, the British began to work on people in the upper ruling class of Tibet by cultivating power-holding pro-British elements such as Xazha Benjor Doje, Dasang Zhamdui and Trimoin Norbu Wanggyai. They, compradors in nature, pushed the 13th Dalai Lama to work against the motherland. And, exploiting the influence of the 13th Dalai Lama among the Tibetans, they themselves worked hard for "Tibetan independence" and let the British control Tibet's foreign affairs, while they dominated its internal affairs (Charles Bell [Britain]: Biography of the 13th Dalai Lama, p.89, translated by Feng Qiyou) This was what the British dreamed-off and served as the political foundation for the "Simla Convention."

With regard to the means imperialist powers used in invading China in the late period of the Qing Dynasty, Mao Zedong summed up like this: (1) The imperialist powers have waged many wars of aggression against China; (2) the imperialist powers have forced China to sign numerous unequal treaties by which they have acquired the right to station land and sea forces; (3) the imperialist powers have gained control of all the important trading ports in China by these unequal treaties: and (4) the imperialist powers have made...the comprador class the main props of their rule in China. (Mao Zedong: The Chinese Revolution and the Chinese Communist Party, Vol.2, p.305 Selected Works of Mao Zedong) What Mao Zedong said generalizes the means used by imperialist powers in invading China. So far as the British are concerned, it coupled the above means with the creation of the theory of "Tibetan independence".

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Britain coupled its military means to bully China's Tibet with political efforts to win the hearts of certain people in the upper ruling class, trimming them into pro-British elements for its own use, and creating the theory of "Tibetan independence" geared to tear Tibet away from China. The Qing imperial court struggled to cope with "Tibetan independence" activities when its own ruling position was precarious. The theory of "Tibetan independence" also added problems to the government of the ensuing Republic of China (1912-49). This is the historical fact which Britain can in no way hide.