CONVENTION BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN, CHINA AND TIBET,
SIMLA, 1914
His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of
the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, His Excellency the
President of 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 in 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 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of
the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, Sir Arthur Henry
McMahon, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight Commander
of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Secretary to the Government of
India, Foreign and Political Departments;
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, Lonchen 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 1
The Convention 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 2
The Government of Great Britain and China recognising that Tibet is under the
suzerainty of China, and recognising also the autonomy of Outer Tibet, engage to
respect the territorial integrity of the country, and to abstain from 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 Government 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 3 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 frontier 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 4
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 5
The Governments of China and Tibet engage that they will enter into any
negotiations or 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 China.
Article 6
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 and the Convention of April
27, 1906, between Great Britain and China.
Article 7
(a) The Tibet Trade Regulations of 1893 and 1908 are hereby cancelled.
(b) 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 excepts with the consent of the Chinese Government.
Article 8 The British Agent who reside 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 9
For the purpose of the present Convention the borders of Tibet, and the boundary
between Outer and Inner Tibet, shall be as 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 10
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 them the English text shall be authoritative.
Article 11
The present Convention will take effect from the date of signature.
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 third day of July, A.D., one thousand nine hundred and
fourteen, corresponding with the Chinese date, the third day of the seventh month
of the third year of the Republic, and the Tibetan date, the tenth day of the fifth
month of the Wood-Tiger year.
Initial of the Lonchen Shatra.
*
Seal of the Lonchen Shatra. (Initialled) A.H.M.
Seal of the
British Plenipotentiary.
*
(Whereas the Simla Convention itself after being initialled by the Chinese Plenipotentiary was not signed
or ratified by the Chinese Government, it was accepted as binding by the two other parties as between
themselves).
*Map not attached
*
Owing to the impossibility of writing initials in Tibetan, the mark of the Lonchen at this place is his
signature. On the withdrawal of the Chinese, a Declaration was signed by the
plenipotentiaries of Britain and Tibet declaring that the Convention was to be
binding on the Governments of Britain and Tibet and agreeing that so long as the
Chinese Government withheld its signature it would be debarred from the
enjoyment of privileges accruing thereunder.
SIMLA, 1914
His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of
the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, His Excellency the
President of 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 in 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 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of
the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, Sir Arthur Henry
McMahon, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight Commander
of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Secretary to the Government of
India, Foreign and Political Departments;
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, Lonchen 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 1
The Convention 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 2
The Government of Great Britain and China recognising that Tibet is under the
suzerainty of China, and recognising also the autonomy of Outer Tibet, engage to
respect the territorial integrity of the country, and to abstain from 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 Government 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 3 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 frontier 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 4
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 5
The Governments of China and Tibet engage that they will enter into any
negotiations or 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 China.
Article 6
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 and the Convention of April
27, 1906, between Great Britain and China.
Article 7
(a) The Tibet Trade Regulations of 1893 and 1908 are hereby cancelled.
(b) 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 excepts with the consent of the Chinese Government.
Article 8 The British Agent who reside 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 9
For the purpose of the present Convention the borders of Tibet, and the boundary
between Outer and Inner Tibet, shall be as 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 10
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 them the English text shall be authoritative.
Article 11
The present Convention will take effect from the date of signature.
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 third day of July, A.D., one thousand nine hundred and
fourteen, corresponding with the Chinese date, the third day of the seventh month
of the third year of the Republic, and the Tibetan date, the tenth day of the fifth
month of the Wood-Tiger year.
Initial of the Lonchen Shatra.
*
Seal of the Lonchen Shatra. (Initialled) A.H.M.
Seal of the
British Plenipotentiary.
*
(Whereas the Simla Convention itself after being initialled by the Chinese Plenipotentiary was not signed
or ratified by the Chinese Government, it was accepted as binding by the two other parties as between
themselves).
*Map not attached
*
Owing to the impossibility of writing initials in Tibetan, the mark of the Lonchen at this place is his
signature. On the withdrawal of the Chinese, a Declaration was signed by the
plenipotentiaries of Britain and Tibet declaring that the Convention was to be
binding on the Governments of Britain and Tibet and agreeing that so long as the
Chinese Government withheld its signature it would be debarred from the
enjoyment of privileges accruing thereunder.
