Losing face : the British foreign service and the question of Tibet 1904-1922
This thesis deals with the evolution and conduct of British policy towards Tibet from the Young husband Expedition in 1904 (in itself the most extreme example of the 'forward policy' on India's frontiers in this period) to the Washington Conference of 1922 (which called for a more subtle approach to the definition and defence of essential British interests). It examines the interaction, in a complex quadrilatereal relationship, of the four branches of the British foreign service primarily involved in Tibetan policy: the Foreign Office and the India Office in London, the Viceroy and the Government of India, and the China service based in Peking. It seeks to elucidate the ways in which British policy-making sought to accommodate the interests of India with the imperatives of policy towards other major powers, notably Russia, China and Japan. Considerable emphasis Is placed upon the problems and contributions of those charged with the implementation of policy 'on the spot', and the ways in which their ability to act independently (as Younghusband had done in 1904) was eroded by the increasing control of their activities by the growing official bureaucracies in London, in a world made smaller by the extension
Palace, Wendy
History
Losing face : the British foreign service and the question of Tibet 1904-1922. This thesis deals with the evolution and conduct of British policy towards Tibet from the Young husband Expedition in 1904 (in itself the most extreme example of the 'forward policy' on India's frontiers in this period) to the Washington Conference of 1922 (which called for a more subtle approach to the definition and defence of essential British interests). It examines the interaction, in a complex quadrilatereal relationship, of the four branches of the British foreign service primarily involved in Tibetan policy: the Foreign Office and the India Office in London, the Viceroy and the Government of India, and the China service based in Peking. It seeks to elucidate the ways in which British policy-making sought to accommodate the interests of India with the imperatives of policy towards other major powers, notably Russia, China and Japan. Considerable emphasis Is placed upon the problems and contributions of those charged with the implementation of policy 'on the spot', and the ways in which their ability to act independently (as Younghusband had done in 1904) was eroded by the increasing control of their activities by the growing official bureaucracies in London, in a world made smaller by the extension
face british_foreign service question tibet deal evolution conduct british_policy_towards tibet young husband expedition extreme example forward policy india frontier period washington conference call subtle definition defence essential british_interest examines interaction complex relationship branch british_foreign service primarily involve tibetan policy foreign office india office london viceroy government india_china service base seek elucidate way british_policy making sought accommodate interest india policy_towards major power notably russia china_japan considerable emphasis_place upon problem contribution charge implementation policy spot way ability act independently erode increase control activity grow official bureaucracy london world make small extension