British Expedition To Tibet - Aftermath

Aftermath

The Tibetans were in fact not just unwilling to fulfill the treaty; they were also unable to perform many of its stipulations. Tibet did not have any substantial international trade commodities and already accepted the borders of its neighbours. Nevertheless, the provisions of the 1904 treaty were confirmed by a 1906 treaty Anglo-Chinese Convention signed between Britain and China. The British, for a fee from the Qing court, also agreed "not to annex Tibetan territory or to interfere in the administration of Tibet", while China engaged "not to permit any other foreign state to interfere with the territory or internal administration of Tibet". In early 1910, Qing China sent a military expedition of its own to Tibet for direct rule. However, the Qing dynasty was overthrown in the Xinhai Revolution, which began in October 1911. Although the Chinese forces departed once more in 1913, the First World War isolated Tibet and reduced Western influence and interest there with the communist takeover in Russia. In 1950, neither the British nor the Indians were able or willing to become involved against the return of Chinese forces.

The position of British Trade Agent at Gyangzê was occupied from 1904 until 1944. It was not until 1937, with the creation of the position of "Head of British Mission Lhasa", that a British officer had a permanent posting in Lhasa itself.

The British seem to have misread the military and diplomatic situation for the Russians did not have the designs on India that the British foresaw and the campaign was politically redundant before it began. It had however, "a profound effect upon Tibet, changing it forever, and for the worse at that, doing much to contribute to Tibet's loss of innocence."