Tibet and the United States of America - An Annotated Chronology of Relations Since 1900

Tibet and the United States of America : An Annotated Chronology of Relations Since 1900

Ken Herold

Internet Edition, 2008

The following is a chronology of selected events since 1900 bearing on the relationship between the nations of Tibet and the United States of America. Of necessity, a large portion of the chronology attends to British, Indian, and Chinese diplomatic accounts. This research guide tells what events are said to have happened according to a variety of documented sources and is not, therefore, a logically-consistent, factual narrative. Use inner slider-bar. See code key and bibliography at report's end.

TibetSites

_DATE_ REPORTED EVENT _SOURCE_

1900
1900 Tibet celebrates National Year 2027, Tibetan calendar year of Iron-Mouse.
1900 Mar 20 U.S. announces policy of equal commercial access to China, so-called 'open door' HE, 303, 309
1900 May 27 Thirteenth Dalai Lama Thupten Gyatso, age 24, has held power since end of Regency in 1895. KD, 7
1900 Jul 4 U.S. celebrates 124th year since Independence
1900 Aug 11 British Viceroy of India Curzon sends first of two letters directly to Dalai Lama after attempts to negotiate with Tibetan authorities fail. KD, 12
1900 Nov McKinley reelected over Bryan despite worsening Philippine insurgency. VP Roosevelt opposes returning territories conquered from Spain, saying these cannot be independent until civilized.

1901
1901 Sep 6 U.S. President McKinley mortally wounded by assassin. HE, 303
1901 Sep 7 Boxer Protocol punishes China for uprisings against foreigners, U.S. troops join punitive force. HE, 303, 311
1901 Sep 14 McKinley dies, succeeded by T. Roosevelt. HE, 303

1902
1902 Aug 2 China Times article describes Russian-Tibetan agreement. KD, 15
1902 Nov 13 Curzon, fearing Russian Tsarist designs on Tibet and India, plans an expedition to force Tibet under British hegemony. PH, 160

1903
1903 Jul 18 British mission begins talks with Tibetans at border station of Khamba Jong. Tibet withdraws and British are recalled after five months. London then approves an armed expedition no further than Gyantse. Russia and China officially protest. PH, 162
1903 Jan 8 Curzon argues for a mission to Lhasa, London recommends continued negotiations with Tibet and China. HR, 84
1903 Apr London approves diplomatic mission to Tibetan border. PH, 162
1903 May Curzon briefs Younghusband on secret Tibet mission. PH, 162
1903 Jun Younghusband party with 200 troops leaves Kalimpong, India, for Tibet. PH, 162
1903 Dec 12 Younghusband forces cross Jelap Pass into Tibet. PH, 164

1904
1904 Jan 8 British forces cross Tang La and reaches Tuna at 16,000 feet. PH, 167
1904 Mar 3 Britain and Russia pledge independence of Tibet. SF
1904 Mar 31 More than 700 Tibetan troops killed at Guru. PH, 171-176
1904 Apr 1-3 Younghusband mission reportedly attacked. SF
1904 Apr 11 British troops reach sight of Gyantse. PH, 177
1904 May 9 Younghusband expedition described. SF
1904 May 30 Reports of mission attack. SF
1904 Jun 26 Reinforcements reach British force at Gyantse. PH, 180
1904 Jul 5 300 Tibetan casualties in British attack at Gyantse. PH, 180
1904 Jul 30 Dalai Lama flees northwards into exile, Gaden Tri Rinpoche named Regent. KD, 21
1904 Jul 31 British forces 45 miles from Lhasa, facing no Tibetan resistance. PH, 182-183
1904 Aug 2 Younghusband expedition enters Lhasa and finds no evidence of Russian involvement in Tibetan affairs, the Dalai Lama having fled to Urga, Mongolia. PH, 184-186
1904 Sep 7 Anglo-Tibetan Convention signed at Lhasa with Tibet as a sovereign power. Britain establishes a trade station at Gyantse. Telegraph lines from Kalimpong to Lhasa remain operable. text: HR, 268-271; PH, 190-191
1904 Sep 19 Further reports on expedition. SF
1904 Sep 23 British troops withdraw from Lhasa. PH, 192
1904 Nov Roosevelt elected U.S. President over Parker and Socialist Debs. PH, 192

1905
1905 Curzon resigns viceroyalty amidst controversy over unnecessary military invasion. KD, 22
1905 Chao Erh-feng begins attempt to bring Kham and neighboring regions of Tibet under Chinese control. KD, 24-25
1905 Jan 30 Younghusband treaty instructions disclosed. SF

1906
1906 Jan 10 British-Russian rivalry in Tibet denied. TT
1906 Jan 19 Chinese attitude on 1904 treaty reported. TT
1906 Mar 22 Effect of visit to India by Panchen Lama on British policy. TT
1906 Apr Anglo-Chinese Convention, excluding Tibet, declares Chinese acceptance of the Lhasa Treaty of 1904. Britain recognizes Chinese 'suzerainty' over Tibet. text: HR, 272-273; PH, 201
1906 Apr 9 Russian czar's message. TT
1906 Apr 11 British exploration party in Tibet. TT
1906 Apr 24 Signing of Anglo-Chinese Convention. TT
1906 Apr 25 Signing of convention. TT
1906 Jun Chao Erh-feng ruthlessly destroys temples and villages in eastern Tibet. KD, 25
1906 Jun 18 Trade with Western Tibet. TT
1906 Aug 2 Trade statistics. TT
1906 Aug 14 Weekly post to Gartok established. TT
1906 Sep Dalai Lama visits Kumbum Monastery, birthplace of Je Tsong Khapa, in Amdo region of Tibet. KD, 23
1906 Sep 5 British-Russian negotiations on Tibet. TT
1906 Nov 22 Movements of the Dalai Lama. TT

1907
1907 Anglo-Russian Convention, also excluding Tibet, declares Russian acceptance of status quo in Tibet. PH, 201
1907 Jan 5 Dalai Lama to return to Lhasa. TT
1907 Feb 6 Progress of Sven Hedin exploration in Tibet. TT
1907 Feb 18 Sven Hedin exploration. TT
1907 Mar 11-12 Sven Hedin exploration. TT
1907 Jul 19 British trade commissioner arrives at Gyantse. TT
1907 Jul 24 Tibetan army reorganized; coinage established. TT
1907 Aug 24 First Tibetan-language newspaper established. TT
1907 Aug 31 Signing of Anglo-Russian Agreement relating to Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet, at St. Petersburg. See text. HR, 273-275
1907 Sep 25-26 Text of Anglo-Russian Agreement. TT
1907 Dec 26 Field Museum expedition to Tibet. SF

1908
1908 China mounts diplomatic pressure in the Chumbi Valley and aggression against eastern Tibet. NB, 220
1908 Jan 15 Points of dispute between Peking and London on Lhasa Convention. TT
1908 Jan 18 China-Great Britain trade negotiations. TT
1908 Feb 4 Chumbi valley to be evacuated by Britain. TT
1908 Feb 6 Native trade agent appointed at Gyantse. TT
1908 Mar 14 Chinese amban to take office. TT
1908 Apr 20 Anglo-Chinese trade regulations signed in Calcutta. text: HR, 275-280; KD, 32
1908 Apr 24 Escort of Indian troops appointed to Gyantse trade post. TT
1908 May 12 Chinese amban appointed; visit of Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama to Peking announced. TT
1908 Aug 10 Suppression of the revolt in Eastern Tibet. TT
1908 Sep 17-18 Sven Hedin's second journey in Tibet. TT
1908 Sep 23 Chinese press comments and arrangements for visit of Dalai Lama. TT
1908 Sep 27 Dalai Lama received in Peking, meets the U.S. ambassador William W. Rockhill, and the Manchu emperor. KD, 27
1908 Oct 21 Dalai Lama leaves Peking for Tibet. KD, 31
1908 Nov 3 Taft elected U.S. President over Bryan after Bryan calls for socialization of railroads. HE, 304
1908 Nov 10 Sven Hedin's travels . TT
1908 Nov 30 U.S.-Japanese agreement on status quo in Asia, including 'open door' to China. HE, 304
1908 Dec 22 Dalai Lama's departure from Peking. TT

1909
1909 Taft's 'dollar diplomacy' increases U.S. investment in China. HE, 304
1909 Jan 11 Hedin describes British influence in Tibet. TT
1909 Feb 12,24 Hedin describes Tibetan customs and geography. TT
1909 Mar 11 Tibetan mission to St. Petersburg. TT
1909 Aug 13 Dalai Lama at Nagchu. TT
1909 Sep 24 China proposes postal service to Tibet. TT
1909 Nov 30 Plans for Dalai Lama to visit St. Petersburg. TT
1909 Dec Dalai Lama returns to Lhasa. HC, 49
1909 Dec Dalai Lama establishes Foreign Ministry. KD, 32

1910
1910 Szechuan leader Chao Erh-feng sends troops to invade Tibet. NB, 220
1910 Jan 3 Chinese troops begin random killings in Lhasa. KD, 34
1910 Feb 2,000 Chinese troops enter Lhasa and the Dalai Lama flees to Kalimpong, India. PH, 201
1910 Feb 25 Chinese troops occupy Lhasa. SF
1910 Feb 27 Chinese troops occupy Lhasa. SF
1910 Feb 28 Dalai Lama appeals to Russia. TT
1910 Mar 1 Tri Rinpoche appointed head of Council of Shapes. TT
1910 Mar 3 Dalai Lama at Darjeeling. TT
1910 Mar 14 Dalai Lama calls on Viceroy Minto in Calcutta. KD, 37
1910 Jul 15 Official British blue-book issued on relations with Tibet. TT
1910 Jul 30 Indian troops ordered to be ready to enter Tibet. TT
1910 Aug 2 Britain and Tibet policy; Britain fears an attack on its agencies in Tibet. TT
1910 Aug 5 Chinese request Dalai Lama's return to Lhasa. TT
1910 Aug 7 Report Chinese troops defeated. SF
1910 Sep 2 Dalai Lama negotiations with China. TT
1910 Sep 23 Lamas at Lhasa advise Dalai Lama not to return to the capital. TT
1910 Oct 15 Execution order angers populace. SF
1910 Nov 3 Younghusband comments on British policy. TT
1910 Dec 2 Dalai Lama renews request to visit Britain. TT

1911
1911 Jan Panchen Lama visits Lhasa while Dalai Lama is in exile in India. KD, 40
1911 Jan 21 Dalai Lama expresses wish to visit England. TT
1911 Jun 29 Tibetan postal service noted. TT
1911 Oct 10 Chinese Revolution begins. HE, 312
1911 Nov 2 Chinese troops attack Sera monastery, Tibetan War Department declares war on Chinese troops in Lhasa. KD, 45
1911 Nov 20 British plans to survey India-Tibet border abandoned. TT
1911 Nov 28 Dalai Lama expected to return to Lhasa. TT

1912
1912 Tibet pushes all Chinese forces east beyond the Mekong River. NB, 220
1912 Jan 16 China announces plans for new province, Hsikang, encompassing part of Eastern Tibet; Lord Curzon comments. TT
1912 Jan 23 Reports of Tibetan revolt against Chinese. TT
1912 Mar Lonchen Shatra (later appointed Tibetan delegate to the Simla Conference) in Calcutta to ask for British arms. DW, 159
1912 Apr Soldiers and monks from Sera monastery arrest and execute pro-Chinese Cabinet ministers. KD, 45
1912 Apr New Chinese Republic declares intention to make lands of Mongols and Tibetans into Chinese provinces. FW, 54
1912 Apr 5 Tibetans threaten attack on Chinese forces. TT
1912 May 11 Panchen Lama at Shigatse; Chinese surrender at Gyantse. TT
1912 Jun Dalai Lama formally reproclaims Tibetan independence. HC, 51
1912 Jun 1 Text of confidential note on the northeast frontier section of the India-Tibet border. DW, 370
1912 Jun 1 Fighting reported in Lhasa. TT
1912 Jun 25 Dalai Lama leaves for Lhasa. TT
1912 Jul 12 Tibetans capture Litang and Batang. TT
1912 Aug 3 Further fighting reported in Lhasa. TT
1912 Aug 15 Reported agreement between Dalai Lama and Chinese amban. TT
1912 Aug 21 Chinese envoys intercepted and imprisoned by Tibet; Dalai Lama refuses Chinese indemnity demands. TT
1912 Aug 27 Dalai Lama and Chinese amban reach agreement on Chinese surrender. KD, 48
1912 Sep 4 Mongolian mission to Tibet refused permission to enter at Darjeeling. TT
1912 Sep 18 Chinese refugees begin arriving at Indian border. TT
1912 Oct 28 Ignoring Tibetan rejection of such claims, China purports to restore Dalai Lama's position and rank. HR, 105
1912 Nov 1 Chinese troops fighting near Litang. TT
1912 Nov Wilson elected U.S. President, defeating Taft and Roosevelt, who was shot in the chest during campaign.
1912 Nov 21 More fighting reported at Lhasa. TT
1912 May 17 Fighting reported in Lhasa, monastery said destroyed. TT

1913
1913 Dalai Lama arranges for four young Tibetans to be educated in England. MG, 143
1913 Jan Dalai Lama enters Lhasa. KD, 49
1913 Jan 3 Chinese force routed. SF
1913 Jan 6 Last of Chinese troops leave Lhasa for Kalimpong. PH, 204
1913 Jan 11 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, Tibet and Mongolia. DD, 73
1913 Feb Tibetan declaration of independence issued. KD, 49
1913 Apr 15 Russian czar receives Tibetan envoys. TT
1913 Apr 25 Tibetan students arrive at Plymouth, England. TT
1913 May 27 Dalai Lama proposes cessation of hostilities with Chinese government. TT
1913 Jul 7 Chinese troops repulsed at Hsiang-cheng. TT
1913 Jul 29 Lord Curzon announces Tibet-China-Great Britain conference. TT
1913 Oct Simla Conference opens with Tibet, Britain and China on equal basis. NB, 221
1913 Oct 22 British attitude to Tibetan demands for autonomy. TT
1913 Oct 26 Role of women in Tibet described. SF

1914
1914 Mar Tibet and Britain negotiate Indo-Tibetan frontier, the so-called McMahon Line. (Detailed maps: DW, 1980/181; NB, 221
1914 Apr Simla Conference ends in discord: Tibet and Britain agree to Chinese 'suzerainty' over Tibet only if China agrees to Tibetan autonomy. China refuses to ratify pact, thus leaving Tibet's independent status unchanged. (Detailed discussion DW, 162+; HC, 221
1914 May 26 Russia assents to Tibetan autonomy agreement. TT
1914 Jul 3 Text of Convention between Great Britain, China and Tibet. DW, 386
1914 Jul 3 Text of Anglo-Tibetan Trade Regulations. DW, 390
1914 Aug As European hostilities escalate into World War, the Dalai Lama offers 1,000 soldiers to fight for British side. KD, 54
1914 Nov 7 Germans surrender to Japanese and British at Tsingtao, China. HE, 395

1915
1915 Nov 26 Friendly relations reported between Panchen Lama and Dalai Lama. TT

1916
1916 Apr 3 Report on British trade opportunities in Tibet. TT
1916 Nov Wilson reelected U.S. President over Hughes on platform of war neutrality.

1917
1917 Postal map of China published by Peking shows Tibet, Mongolia, and East Turkestan as Chinese regions, though not including the Aksai Chin region of the Tibetan plateau. DW, 81

1918
1918 Tibetan troops, trained and equipped by Britain, capture Chamdo, Draya, Markham, Gonjo and De-ge. As they approach Nyarong and Batang, China asks Britain to mediate and Britain helps China by refusing Tibet arms. DW, 187
1918 Jul 22 Chinese helpless against Tibetan revolt. TT
1918 Jul 29 Chinese surrender Chamdo to Tibetan forces. TT
1918 Aug 19 British consul, Teichman, in Chengdu negotiates a ceasefire between Kham and China, dividing Kham into Lhasa-administered W. Kham (Chamdo) and 'independent' E. Kham east of Yangtse under nominal control of China (Kanting). KD, 56
1918 Sep 10 Hostilities cease, Tibetans demand treaty modifications. TT
1918 Oct 10 Supplemental ceasefire agreement signed. TS, 262

1919
1919 Jan 3 History of Chinese-Tibetan dispute. TT
1919 Mar 4 British parliament discusses Tibetan autonomy settlement. TT
1919 Apr 2 Death of Lonchen Shatra reported. TT
1919 Sep 13 Hitch reported in Chinese negotiations with Tibet. TT
1919 Sep 18 Prospects of settlement of the China-Tibet dispute. TT
1919 Nov 7 Chicago bank agrees to provide 5,000,000 pound loan to China. TT
1919 Nov 27 Tibet may invoke aid of Nepal and Bhutan in the event of hostilities with China. TT

1920
1920 Yajima Yasujiro returns to Japan after training 200 Tibetan soldiers from 1914-17. MG, 143
1920 Jan Britain suggests a boundary conference at Lhasa. Tibet declines and entertains a Chinese delegation from Kansu for talks and eventually agrees to a ceasefire. DW, 189
1920 Jan 16 League of Nations formally inaugurated, the U.S. is not a member having rejected the Treaty of Versailles. Tibet does not become a member either, though China does. HE, 441-442
1920 Aug 28 Prospects of railway and wool development in Tibet. TT
1920 Oct 13 Lord Curzon comments on Tibet. TT
1920 Nov Sir Charles Bell in Lhasa through October of 1921 to urge better relations between Tibet and Britain. DW, 189
1920 Nov 2 Harding elected U.S. President over Cox.
1920 Nov 17 Arrangements for Bell's visit to Lhasa. TT
1920 Nov 29 Bell arrives in Lhasa. TT

1921
1921 National Assembly approves build-up of Tibetan army to 17,000 soldiers. MG, 142
1921 Feb Bell diary entries in The Tibet Album. TA
1921 Mar 8 Report on Bell's mission to Tibet. TT
1921 May 18 Report on the health of the Dalai Lama. TT
1921 Jun 7 Teichman lectures on the Kham region. TT
1921 Jun 15, 30 Reports on the Everest expedition. TT
1921 Oct 2 British exploring expedition in Tibet. SF
1921 Oct 31 Bell suggests a new British treaty with Tibet. TT
1921 Nov 3 Chomolhari The Tibet Album photographed by Bell or Rabden Lepcha. TA
1921 Dec 12 Bell's mission to Tibet ends. TT
1921 Dec 15 Life in and customs of Tibet described. TT
1921 Dec 17 Bell interviewed. TT

1922
1922 Actions by Lungshar (Biography at The Tibet Album) provoke war preparations by Nepal and Tibet, but the Dalai Lama settles the controversy peacefully. HR, 133
1922 Lhasa government demands contribution from Tashilhunpo for growing Tibetan army. MG, 185
1922 Feb 6 Washington Disarmament Conference ends, confirming China 'open door' policy. Japan agrees to return Shantung to China. HE, 441, 488
1922 Apr 15 Description of Tibetan geology. TT
1922 Jun 9 Rongbuk monastery described by Everest party. TT
1922 Sep 19 China Trade Act becomes U.S. law, defining China to include Manchuria, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Macao, and Thibet [sic.]
1922 Oct 2 Negative description of the customs of Tibetan lamas. TT
1922 Nov 4 British Buddhist mission refused permission to visit Lhasa. TT

1923
1923 Dalai Lama orders troops under Tsarang to put off revolt by Drepung monks. MG, 144
1923 An English school opens in Gyantse. MG, 112
1923 Apr 2,23 Accounts of the British Buddhist mission planned for Tibet. TT
1923 May 17 Photograph of the Dalai Lama published. TT
1923 Aug 2 Harding dies in office, Coolidge assumes Presidency. HE, 443

1924
1924 Pro-Chinese Sixth Panchen Lama enters period of exile in China. LT, 38
1924 Tsarong's request for military representation at Tsongdu denied. MG, 144
1924 May 2,16 Photographs of Tibetans published. TT
1924 May 4 Religious mysteries of Tibet described. SF
1924 May 26 Russian allegations of British activity in Tibet. TT
1924 May 29 Chinese press reports on British activities in Tibet. TT
1924 Jun 4 British naturalist expedition to Tibet described. TT
1924 Oct 9 British political mission to Tibet; Mongolians from Urga arrive in Nakcho with petition for Dalai Lama. TT
1924 Nov 4 Coolidge elected President. HE, 444
1924 Dec 2 Tibetan army commander to visit India. TT
1924 Dec 6 British (Ward-Cawdor) expedition to Tibet. TT

1925
1925 Tsarong relieved of army command, condition of Tibetan forces deteriorates. MG, 144
1925 Feb 27 Panchen Lama visits Peking. TS, 263
1925 Mar 22 Tibetan lamas visit Paris. SF
1925 Apr 25 Tibetan lamas received in Berlin. TT
1925 Nov 24 Monastery at Labrang described. TT

1926
1926 Tibet represented at Nilang Boundary Commission along with border territory of Tehri and Britain. D1, 259
1926 English school at Gyantse forced to close due to opposition of monasteries. MG, 112
1926 Mar 4 Electrical equipment convoy massacred in Tibet. SF
1926 Jul 18 Devil dances of Tibet depicted. SF

1927
1927 German geologist Emil Trinkler visits the Aksai Chin area, calling it the westernmost plateau of Tibet. DW, 83
1927 Chiang Kai-shek sets up new Chinese government at Nanking, writes Dalai Lama offering his total support if Tibet would become a Chinese province. KD, 57

1928
1928 Panchen Lama urges China to assume responsibility over Tibet. DW, 192
1928 Chinese warlord Liu invades Kham-China borderlands and his troops are pushed back into Szechuan. MP, 12
1928 May 27 Polyandry in Tibet described. SF
1928 Jun Peking falls to Nationalists. CQ1, 75
1928 Jun 13 Roerich describes conditions in Tibet. TT
1928 Jul 25 U.S. is first country to recognize Nationalists as national government of China. CQ1, 75
1928 Nov 6 Hoover elected President. HE, 444

1929
1929 Jan 30 Tibet invited to join Chinese Nationalist movement. TT

1930
1930 Charles Suydam Cutting is the first American to visit Tibet. TS, 267
1930 Chiang Kai-shek sends two missions to Lhasa. Dalai Lama urges China to supply arms to Tibet and to return to Tibet areas previously under Tibetan control. DW, 192
1930 May 20 Question in British parliament on Tibet's relations with Britain, Russia, India, Nepal and China. TT
1930 Oct Descriptions and photographs of Minya Konka range on China-Tibet border by National Geographic. NG, 385-437

1931
1931 Dalai Lama writes political testament setting forth policy of friendly relations with both Britain and China. HR, 132
1931 Sep Dalai Lama and Chiang negotiate an uneasy local truce in Kham. KD, 59
1931 Sep 18 Japan invades Manchuria. HE, 488
1931 Oct 31 Sir Charles Bell describes an independent Tibet in Foreign Affairs. He had become friends with the Dalai Lama in India. AC, 130
1931 Nov Chinese Soviet Republic created in Kiangsi Province under Mao. HE, 483

1932
1932 Jan 7 Stimson Doctrine says U.S. opposed to attacks on Chinese sovereignty or territorial integrity. HE, 442
1932 Jan 29 Japan attacks Shanghai and League of Nations endorses Stimson Doctrine. HE, 442
1932 Apr Warlord Liu Wen-hui again invades Kham borderlands, breaking armistice agreed to by Nationalists. Within five months Chinese troops push Tibetans back to the Yangtse and threaten Chamdo. HR, 135
1932 Aug Szechuan chieftain Liu Wen-hui fighting Tibetan troops. Chinghai governor also hostile to Tibet. DW, 192
1932 Aug Dalai Lama wires Government of India for help and diplomatic intervention at Nanking. HR, 135
1932 Aug 12 Frontier fighting between China and Tibet. TT
1932 Sep Britain helps Tibet achieve ceasefire with Szechuan. FW, 60
1932 Nov 8 Roosevelt elected President. HE, 445
1932 Dec 31 Tibetan monks leave Switzerland. TT

1933
1933 Tibetans sign local armistice with Governor Ma of Chinghai, ceding territory east of the Yangtse but the Yakalo district to the west. HR, 136
1933 May 25 Tangku Armistice formalizes Japanese control over Manchuria and frees Chinese Nationalist forces to attack Communists. HE, 483
1933 Dec 17 Death of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama at Lhasa, ending Tibet's foreign policy of non-alignment. Text of his last political testament. Text: KD, 143-146; DW, 193
1933 Dec 20 Death of the Dalai Lama reported. TT
1933 Dec 20 Finance Minister Lungshar mounts an unsuccessful coup d'etat in Lhasa. JA, 20
1933 Dec 21 Position of the Panchen Lama in China described. TT

1934
1934 Chinese Communist Long March retreat enters parts of eastern Tibet and is attacked by fierce Golok and Mantzu tribes and Tibetan troops. LT, 72-73
1934 Jan Tsongdu, Tibet's National Assembly, elects Reting Rinpoche as Regent of Tibet. Biography at The Tibet Album TS, 276
1934 Jan 22 General Huang Mu-sung in Lhasa on Chinese mission. TT
1934 Feb 13 Chinese mission at Lhasa. TT
1934 Mar 23 Chinese mission in Lhasa. TT
1934 Apr Huang Mu-sung arrives in Lhasa via eastern Tibet to offer condolences on passing of Dalai Lama. TS, 276
1934 Apr 6 Russia alleges British designs on Tibet. TT
1934 May 23 Panchen Lama in Shanghai. TT
1934 May 25 Biography of the Panchen Lama. TT
1934 May 31 National Assembly demands increased powers; Lungshar punished for plot; Panchen Lama's correspondence. TT
1934 Jun 1,7 National Assembly's demands; Lungshar's punishment. TT
1934 Jun 6 Panchen Lama's correspondence. TT
1934 Jun 7 Panchen Lama visits British warship. TT
1934 Jun 18 Dalai Lama's correspondence published. TT
1934 Aug 16 Chinese political mission in Lhasa. TT
1934 Sep 6 Chinese mission in Lhasa. TT
1934 Sep 13 Proclamation by Chinese mission in Lhasa. TT
1934 Oct Chinese Gen. Huang Mu-sung leaves Lhasa unable to convince the Tibetan Government to submit to Chinese authority. Regent Reting agrees to permit Panchen Lama to return to Lhasa but without the military escort China demands. DW, 194
1934 Oct Chinese liaison left behind at Lhasa eventually forms a Chinese Mission, equipped with radio. MG, 127,130
1934 Nov 19 Possibility of the return of the Panchen Lama to Tibet. TT
1934 Dec Panchen Lama's brother in India. TT

1935
1935 Lost Horizon published in U.S., popularizes a mythical Shangri-La set in a Tibet dominated by Europeans and Chinese and where Tibetans appear only as servants. TS, 267
1935 Reginald Fox joins new British mission to Lhasa. Mission has only the second radio set in the whole country. MG, 120,130
1935 Jan Mao elected Communist Party chairman. HE, 484
1935 May 3 Communist Chinese threat to Eastern Tibet. TT
1935 Jun 13 British representative invited to Lhasa; Panchen Lama in China. TT
1935 Jul 6 Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, is born in the Amdo region of Tibet at Takster. Tibet will pay ransom to local Chinese authorities for his freedom to travel. JA, 8
1935 Oct Communists establish new center at Yenan. HE, 484
1935 Nov 21 Panchen Lama's return to Lhasa delayed. TT
1935 Dec 13 Exploration of Western Tibet by Tucci reported. TT
1935 Dec 14 Exploration of Western Tibet by Tucci further reported. TT

1936
1936 Lhasa sends three search parties for incarnation of Dalai Lama. D2, 156
1936 Tibet invites British mission to modernize Tibetan army and assist in negotiations with China for the return of Panchen Lama. LT, 73
1936 Richardson and other British officials visit Lhasa for five months to bolster pro-India faction in Tibet. DW, 194
1936 May 7 Portents sought for new Dalai Lama; position of the Panchen Lama. TT
1936 May 21 Position of the Panchen Lama. TT
1936 Oct 1 Search for the Dalai Lama under way. TT
1936 Oct 29 Search parties leave. TT
1936 Nov 3 Roosevelt re-elected. HE, 447
1936 Nov 19 Panchen Lama reportedly at Jyekundo. TT
1936 Dec 19 British mission diaries excerpted. TT

1937
1937 Fourteenth Dalai Lama discovered by search party. Moslem warlord demands ransom of 300,000 silver dollars to permit party to return to Lhasa. D2, 156
1937 Charles Suydam Cutting makes third visit to Tibet. TS, 267
1937 Burma constitutionally detached from India. FW, 75
1937 Feb Main body of Gould's mission leaves Lhasa, but British Mission in Lhasa retains radio transmitter in order to counter Chinese. HR, 147
1937 Apr 15 British Mission diary excerpts, with description of Tibetan new year ceremonies. TT
1937 May 27 Great Prayer festival at Lhasa described. TT
1937 Jun 5 Further British mission diary excerpts and photograph. TT
1937 Jul 25 Peking overrun by Japanese troops. Nationalist Chinese withdraw to southern China. MS, 13
1937 Aug Panchen Lama moves to Rashi Gompa on the Tibetan border. HR, 146
1937 Oct 28 Panchen Lama said banned from Tibet. TT
1937 Nov 27 Color film of Tibet by F.S. Chapman. TT
1937 Nov 29 More color film of Tibet by Chapman. TT
1937 Dec 1 Sixth Panchen Lama dies in exile at Jyekundo. Seventh incarnation is disputed between Tibetan and Chinese candidates. TS, 283
1937 Dec 4 Obituary and photograph of the Panchen Lama. TT

1938
1938 Regent instructs search party to bring child Dalai Lama to Lhasa. HC, 55
1938 Nov 18 Japan rejects 'open door' policy in China. HE, 443
1938 Nov 30 Roosevelt approves $25 million loan to support Chiang Kai-shek at crucial juncture in his rise to power in China. MS, 27

1939
1939 Apr 19,20 Curzon-Midleton controversy in British Tibet policy reported. TT
1939 Apr 22,26 Further Curzon-Midleton Tibet policy correspondence. TT
1939 Jun 7 Tibetan new year ceremonies described. TT
1939 Jul Tsongdu meets in the Potala and confirms the Taktser candidate as the 14th Dalai Lama. TS, 284
1939 Aug Dalai Lama begins overland journey to Lhasa. D2, 156
1939 Sep 1 Germany invades Poland, commencing Second World War. HE, 491
1939 Oct 2 Einstein signs letter advising Roosevelt of possibility of German atomic bomb research and development. RP, 4
1939 Oct 8 Dalai Lama enters Lhasa and receives foreign dignitaries from Britain, Bhutan, China, and Nepal. HC,60
1939 Oct 9 Description of the Dalai Lama's ceremonial entry into Lhasa. TT
1939 Oct 11 Roosevelt receives Einstein letter and the U.S. embarks on a race for nuclear arms. RP, 4
1939 Oct 13 Confidence of the Tibetan Cabinet. TT
1939 Oct 28 Tibetan Cabinet confident. TT
1939 Nov 4 Photograph and description of Dalai Lama entering Lhasa. TT
1939 Nov 15 Explanation of incarnation of Dalai Lamas. TT

1940
1940 Feb 22 Dalai Lama, four years old, installed in minority as temporal and spiritual leader of Tibet. JA, 12
1940 Mar 7 $20 million loan arranged by U.S. to Chiang regime in return for future tin shipments. MS, 32
1940 Sep Britain temporarily closes Burma Road, cutting supply route to and from Nationalist China. MS, 35
1940 Nov Roosevelt elected to third term.
1940 Nov 30 U.S. approves $100 million for Chiang regime after Japan formally recognizes its puppet regime in China. Chiang's opposition to Communists is strengthened. Chinese Minister Soong submits plan to U.S. for secret air force to bomb Japan from China. MS, 37
1940 Dec 19 Roosevelt plans secret terror bombing of Japanese cities from air bases in Nationalist China. MS, 74

1941
1941 Dalai Lama begins intensive religious education. D2, 156
1941 Regency passes from Reting Rinpoche to Tathag (Taktra) Rinpoche, Senior Tutor to the Dalai Lama. MG, 138
1941 Mar 19 India-Sinkiang boundary dispute resolution expected. NY
1941 Mar 31 Chiang regime formally enters Lend-Lease program whereby the President can, at his sole discretion, approve military shipments to China. MS, 56
1941 Apr 15 Roosevelt authorizes U.S. military personnel to form mercenary force to fight against Japan in China. SS, 84
1941 Apr 23 Roosevelt approves $43 million in arms to Chiang, followed by additional $100 million. MS, 56
1941 Jun 9 First 'Flying Tigers' leave for China under contract to a private corporation for secret air operations. MS, 77
1941 Jul 23 Roosevelt formally approves U.S. military plan for incendiary bombing of Japan from bases in China. MS, 81
1941 Jul 26 U.S. leads international embargo against Japan, cutting oil supplies and demanding Japan withdraw from China. MS, 59
1941 Dec U.S. mercenary air force based at Kunming in Yunnan to protect Burma Road traffic. Kunming is destination point for supplies flown over the 'Hump' SS, 74
1941 Dec 7 Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, leads to U.S. declaration of war. HE, 502
1941 Dec 9 NYT editorial hopes for Chinese assistance in war against Japan. NY

1942
1942 Bureau of Foreign Affairs created under the Kashag. MG, 145
1942 Feb Flying Tigers based in Burma (Magwe, Lashio, Loiwing, Toungoo). SS, 87
1942 Feb 9 Roosevelt instructs Stilwell to inform Chiang that upon Japan's defeat China would recover all (unspecified) 'lost territory' from Ching Dynasty. Congress approves $500 million loan to corrupt Chiang regime. MS, 96, 98
1942 Mar 16 U.S. military propaganda plan for widespread publicity in the U.S. boosting Chiang's image as leader of all China. MS, 107
1942 May 6 Japanese forces conquer the Philippines, a U.S. Territory. HE, 503
1942 Jun 21 Defeat at Tobruk causes Allied military to divert warplanes and weapons from China and secret air force. MS, 107
1942 Jul 2 OSS Director Donovan asks Secretary of State Hull to expedite request for permission for two OSS agents to travel in secret via India to Tibet and thence to China to meet U.S. Army commander Stilwell. FR, 624
1942 Jul 3 Secretary Hull sends Roosevelt a draft letter for OSS agents Ilya Tolstoi and Brooke Dolan II to carry to Dalai Lama (addressed as religious leader of Tibet so as not to offend Nationalist China), a letter which proclaims great interest by America in Tibet and her people, but basically asking Tibet for permission to enter and cross its territory. FR, 625-626
1942 Jul 3 Secretary Hull wires Ambassador to China Gauss that Britain is not able to pressure India to obtain Tibetan permission to transport war materials to China. Britain is urging China to make a public pledge of Tibetan autonomy prior to threatening economic sanctions against Tibet. British refer to Tibetan independence as well as autonomy. Hull notes U.S. has not questioned Chinese claims of 'suzerainty' over Tibet. U.S. begins policy of non-committal public attitude on Tibetan questions. FR, 626
1942 Jul 4 Flying Tigers officially incorporated into U.S. Army Air Forces, though many later join Civil Air Transport. SS, 101
1942 Jul 13 Gauss reports to Hull that Tibetans have agreed to passage of non-military supplies for China, that China has no plans for road to Tibet or stationing of troops due to certain Tibetan opposition. China makes no pledge regarding autonomy however. FR, 627
1942 Jul 30 Gauss receives a report in Chungking that Chinese government heard arguments from finance minister Kung supporting Tibet as a 'self-governing dominion' presumably within Nationalist China. FR, 628-629
1942 Aug 27 British Embassy reports to State Dept. that China appears to want to expand into eastern Tibet more than it wants to move supplies. Even so, Britain is not pushing for autonomy declaration by China. Britain supports autonomy. Tibet has refused permission for foreign supervision in Tibet of any supply mission. FR, 630-631
1942 Sep U.S. supplies Tibetan Government with equipment for three radio stations delivered by OSS agents Tolstoy and Dolan. MG, 97, 130
1942 Sep 15 U.S. State Dept. reaffirms its position that Chinese claim of 'suzerainty' over Tibet has not been questioned by U.S. and thus no reply is due to Britain on its policy. FR, 631
1942 Oct 12 Roosevelt promises Chiang greater military deliveries over the Himalayas (the 'Hump') and future warplanes. MS, 114
1942 Dec 31 Nearly 100,000 U.S. military personnel in the China-Burma-India war theater. MS, 139

1943
1943 Chiang orders Governor of 'Sikang' (Chinese 'province' reaching into Eastern Tibet) to move troops to Tibetan border. FW, 60
1943 Jan U.S. military finds the American public believes China is greatly supporting the war effort, even though this is not true. MS, 120
1943 Feb 8 President Roosevelt's representative in India wires Secretary of State insisting on joint arrangement with both Tibetan and Chinese governments over possible transit of Tibet with war materials. FR, 621
1943 Apr 15 Roosevelt approves U.S. Navy SACO group joint operations with Chiang's ruthless secret police. MS, 236
1943 May 15 U.S. position on Tibet relayed to U.K. FR, 630
1943 Aug 5 Letter from U.K. Secretary Eden to Chinese minister Soong regarding U.K. policy on Tibet--same as later 12/12/49 position paper--Britain will give Tibet moral support but will not intervene. 1949 FR, IX, 1091
1943 Nov U.S. military supply plane goes off course over the Hump and the crew survives. Tibetans help them to Lhasa. PH, 237
1943 Nov 22 Cairo Conference: Roosevelt and Churchill meet Chiang and recognize China as one of the great allies. HE, 506
1943 Nov 28 Teheran Conference: Roosevelt sets May 1944 for invasion of Europe, Churchill declines support for Burma, Stalin asks for privileges in Manchuria. MS, 150
1943 Dec 6 Presidential advisor Hopkins ridicules Chiang's desire to acquire Outer Mongolia and other territories, says U.S. would demand post-war bases in Formosa (Taiwan). MS, 151
1943 Dec 19 Five American air crewmen escorted out of Lhasa to India. PH, 245

1944
1944 Jan 19 Experiences of five U.S. airmen downed in Tibet. NY
1944 Feb 18 10th Panchen Lama enthroned at Taer monastery. NY
1944 Mar 28 Labrang monastery delegation to Chungking. NY
1944 Jul 6 Roosevelt cables Chiang that Stilwell should assume command of all Chinese and American forces, including Communist armies in China. MS, 165
1944 Jul 10 Vice Pres. Wallace reports to Roosevelt after two weeks in China that Chiang's corrupt government seems doomed to fall to the Communists. MS, 163
1944 Aug 23 Mao tells U.S. agent in Yenan that Communists desire future cooperation with U.S. after defeat of Japan. MS, 184
1944 Aug 30 OSS has begun training Communists in Yenan. MS, 187
1944 Sep 6 Hurley goes to Nationalist capital Chungking as Roosevelt's representative. MS, 166
1944 Sep 13 Communists tell Stilwell their willingness to put forces under his command. MS, 168
1944 Sep 19 Stilwell gives Chiang Roosevelt's ultimatum to turn command of forces over to Stilwell. MS, 169
1944 Sep 19 Roosevelt and Churchill decide that use of an atomic bomb against Japan is a possibility. RP, 13
1944 Sep 25 Communist leader Chu Teh announces support for U.S. command of all Chinese forces. MS, 188
1944 Oct 10 Hurley recommends to Roosevelt to recall Stilwell. MS, 173
1944 Oct 18 Roosevelt replaces Stilwell with Wedemeyer. (Gauss resigns soon after and Hurley becomes Ambassador to China.) MS, 174
1944 Nov Roosevelt elected to fourth term.
1944 Nov 8 Hurley and Mao sign proposal for Chinese coalition government and U.S. military aid. MS, 196
1944 Nov 21 Nationalists stall Hurley proposal. MS, 198
1944 Nov 22 OSS office in China proposes secret military program to aid Communists. MS, 197
1944 Dec 15 U.S. Army and OSS agents propose joint U.S.-Communist commando and intelligence operations. MS, 203

1945
1945 British Mission under Basil Gould helps start a school at Lhasa, but it soon closes under opposition of monasteries. TS, 289
1945 Jan 9 Mao and Chou offer to come to Washington to explain position of Chinese Communists and ask for political recognition. MS, 205
1945 Jan 11 Wedemeyer reduces airlift supply tonnage to SACO group having drug smuggling connections in China. MS, 242
1945 Jan 14 U.S. Navy SACO group informs Hurley of secret Army-OSS contacts with Communists. MS, 239
1945 Jan 30 SACO group training secret police in torture and assassination of Communists and opponents to Chiang regime. MS, 243
1945 Feb 28 U.S. charge cables Secretary of State staff assessment that Hurley is destroying chance for unity and peace in China. MS, 212
1945 Mar 9 U.S. air forces firebomb Tokyo. HE, 513
1945 Apr 2 Hurley publicly denies Communists have asked for military aid or political recognition. MS, 218
1945 Apr 12 Amidst crisis in U.S.-China policy and global war, Roosevelt dies and Truman assumes Presidency. HE, 511
1945 Apr 25 Truman receives first detailed briefing on Manhattan Project, having learned of its existence only 13 days earlier. RP, 13
1945 May 8 Axis powers defeated throughout Europe, with 20 million Russian, 6 million Jewish, 405,000 American, 330,000 British and 270,000 French dead, among others. HE, 513
1945 Jun 6 FBI, following prior OSS break-in, raids New York office of journal 'Amerasia' to seize supposed 'secret' documents on China policy, all under approval of President Truman. MS, 226
1945 Jun 24 Two U.S. soldiers return to China on Chinese government pack train. NY
1945 Jun 25 United Nations Conference in San Francisco adopts Charter. Allied China is a member, but neutral Tibet is not invited. HE, 643
1945 Jun 25 Mao warns U.S. not to continue support for despot Chiang. MS, 227
1945 Jul 16 First atomic bomb exploded in U.S. test 'TRINITY' at Alamagordo AFB in New Mexico. MS, 255
1945 Jul 24 Truman plans atomic bomb attack on Japan to forestall Russian advance into Manchuria and northern China. MS, 257
1945 Jul 26 Potsdam Declaration calls for unconditional Japanese surrender. RP
1945 Aug 6 Atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, by the U.S. RP
1945 Aug 9 Atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, by the U.S. after Kokura, the primary target, was obscured by clouds. RP
1945 Aug 10 U.S. Joint Chiefs order world's largest military air transport, moving Nationalist forces to coastal and northern China. MS, 263
1945 Aug 14 Sino-Soviet Treaty pledges Russian support for Nationalists and withdrawal from Manchuria after Japanese surrender. MS, 261
1945 Aug 14 Japan informs U.S. of decision to surrender. RP
1945 Aug 15 Truman designates Chiang as sole authority to accept Japanese surrender in China, excluding Communists from share in victory. MS, 264
1945 Aug 25 Chiang says Tibet must be allowed high degree of autonomy by China and (Outer) Mongolia granted independence. NY
1945 Sep 2 Formal Japanese surrender with 2.2 million Chinese, 1.5 million Japanese and 55,000 Americans dead, among others. HE, 515
1945 Sep 30 U.S. marines land at Tientsin and assist Japanese forces in battles against Communists so as to hold territory for Nationalist regime. MS, 272
1945 Oct 1 President Truman officially disbands the OSS, but its operatives are distributed among the many government intelligence units. TP, 28
1945 Oct 22 U.S. Joint Chief's report says Chiang should put Chinese economy under U.S. control, giving U.S. access to raw materials, a military arms market, and surveillance of Sino-Soviet border regions. MS, 279
1945 Nov 12 U.S. War Secretary says 53,000 marines will keep fighting in China to support Nationalists. White House press release says U.S. policy is to not interfere in Chinese internal affairs. MS, 274
1945 Nov 27 Hurley resigns, causing political scandal in U.S. over China policy. U.S. continues massive arms transfer to Nationalists. MS, 288

1946
1946 Chennault forms Civil Air Transport with money from Nationalists, flying C-46 and C-47 transports. SS, 147
1946 Jan Heinrich Harrer (see his: Seven Years in Tibet) and Peter Aufschnaiter reach Lhasa after escaping Allied prisoner-of-war camp in India. MG, 114
1946 Jan 5 Dalai Lama writes letter to President Truman promoting good relations between the two countries. (Translation delivered February 7, 1947) 1947 FR, VII, 592
1946 Jan 7 Regent and Tibetan Cabinet write similar letters to Truman. 1947 FR, VII, 592
1946 Jul 29 General Marshall embargoes arms shipments to China and reduces U.S. forces from 100,000 troops to 6,000. MS, 298
1946 Jul 11 Truman names Dr. J. Leighton Stuart as U.S. Ambassador to replace Hurley. CQ1, 81
1946 Aug National Geographic article tells of Tolstoy and Dolan's trip across Tibet from India to China, followed by Cutting's rare photographs. NG, 169-222
1946 Aug 11 Tibet's role in British empire's defense strategy includes treaty rights to British bases and support for independence from China. NY
1946 Oct 1 U.S. policy statement on China says U.S. and China both regard Tibet as an integral part of China. 1947 FR, VII, 600
1946 Nov 19 Afghanistan joins U.N. UN
1946 Dec U.S. State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee creates guidelines for covert action operations. TP, 30
1946 Dec 3 Top secret policy on status of Tibet questioned as U.S. charge in India wires Secretary of State on the desirability of continuing the U.S. 'non-committal' attitude. 1947 FR, VII, 588
1946 Dec 16 Thailand joins U.N. UN

1947
1947 Tibet sends mission to Nanking to negotiate settlement of border and get recognition of independence, but without success. LT, 75
1947 Jan 13 U.S. charge in India reports to Secretary of State on desire of Tibetans for stronger relations with the United States and reasons why U.S. should send favorable Presidential reply to Lhasa. Included are factors emphasizing Tibet's great strategic, military and ideological importance. FR, VII, 588-592
1947 Mar Truman Doctrine enunciated: the U.S. will support free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressure. HE, 585
1947 Mar 23 Delhi conference of all Asian countries includes Tibet as a fully sovereign nation. TS, 291
1947 Apr 14 Acting Sec. of State Dean Acheson wires U.S. charge in India: the U.S. War Dept. does not consider Tibet to be a useful base of military operations, the State Dept. recommends only unofficial U.S. diplomatic visits to Tibet, and in light of Sino-American relations it would not be useful to raise the question of the status of Tibet. FR, VII, 594
1947 Apr 15 Ex-Regent Reting Rinpoche arrested. MG, 139
1947 May Conspirators punished after trial by Tsongdu. MG, 139
1947 May 8 Regent Reting dies. TS, 293
1947 Jun-Jul Nyungne Lama commits suicide following aborted coup. Reting reportedly arrested. Je College of Sera Monastery revolts with 200 monks killed by government troops. Reting dies in prison. MP
1947 Jun 11 Tibetan Foreign Office writes U.S. charge in India on upcoming trade mission to the U.S. led by Finance Minister Shakabpa. FR, VII, 596
1947 Jun 13 Coup attempt reported in Lhasa. NY
1947 Jun 14 Shakabpa letter to U.S. Ambassador in India on trade mission. FR, VII, 596
1947 Jul 13 Former pro-Chinese Regent Jecheng (?) reported executed in coup attempt. NY
1947 Jul 26 U.S. Central Intelligence Agency created with passage of the National Security Act. TP, 31
1947 Jul 30 U.S. response to Tibetan Foreign Bureau on trade delegation makes distinction between Chinese and Tibetan governments. The response to Shakabpa implies State Dept. assistance with his visit to Washington. FR, VII, 597
1947 Aug 1 U.S. Ambassador in India wires Sec. of State on the political background to the Tibetan Trade Mission's upcoming visit to Washington, following a non-committal policy so as not to offend Chinese claims of sovereignty. FR, VII, 596
1947 Aug 15 Upon Indian independence, British Mission to Lhasa closes. Reginald Fox is hired by Tibetan Government as a radio monitor and trainer. (Call sign AC4YN-Lhasa) Mission head Hugh Richardson stays on as head of Indian Mission. MG, 120
1947 Aug 15 India and Pakistan achieve independence. DW, 213
1947 Aug 21 U.S. Ambassador in India wires Sec. of State questioning War Dept. view on Tibet's importance and asking if U.S. policy that Tibet is part of China has changed. FR, VII, 598
1947 Aug 26 U.S. Embassy in London reports British decide not to support Tibet as they withdraw from India. FR
1947 Sep 30 Pakistan joins U.N. UN
1947 Oct 4 Yale University to give course on Tibetan culture. NY
1947 Oct 6 Jacques Marchais Tibetan Center opened in New York City. NY
1947 Oct 25 Tibet sends trade delegations to India, China, France, Italy, Britain, and the U.S. under Tibetan Government passports. TS, 294
1947 Oct 28 State Dept. wires answer to U.S. Ambassador in India: as U.S. does not question Chinese claim to sovereignty over Tibet, the trade delegation should be referred to the Commerce Dept.
1947 Nov 21 U.S. Ambassador in India forwards State Dept. information on the trade delegation provided by Indian representative to Sikkim Hopkinson that mission is prompted by Rimshi Pangda Tsang; trade delegation travelling on Tibetan travel documents and visiting China ahead of U.S. and U.K. FR, VII, 602
1947 Dec 17 U.S. Foreign Aid Act support to Nationalist China.
1947 Dec 19 First meeting of the National Security Council adopts NSC 4/A, directing the CIA to secretly prevent Communist election victory. TP, 31
1947 Dec 22 U.S. charge in India wires Sec. of State that China wants trade delegation to travel on Chinese passports. FR, VII, 604
1947 Dec 22 CIA's Special Procedures Group established to carry out covert actions. TP, 31
1947 Dec 26 Acting Sec. of State Lovett replies to charge in India that he should not pressure Tibetans to be subordinate to China nor make mission an issue between U.S. and China. FR, VII, 604
1947 Dec 30 Charge in India wires Sec. of State: Trade delegation wants to buy gold and silver as backing for Tibetan currency, but it may not be able to obtain enough dollars in India. Includes report of meeting with trade delegation at U.S. Embassy. Question of whether request from Lhasa Government falls under Gold Reserve Act of 1934. FR, VII, 606

1948
1948 Harrer begins working for Tibetan Government. MG, 114
1948 Jan 4 Union of Burma celebrates independence. FW, 79
1948 Jan 31 Tibetan trade delegation arriving in Nanking learns of the assassination of Mohandas Gandhi. TS,
1948 Apr China Aid Act grants Chiang $125 million as Communists take military initiative in civil war. MS, 301
1948 Apr 19 Burma joins U.N. UN
1948 Jun 18 NSC 10/2 creates new covert action group called the Office of Policy Coordination to, among other things, assist indigenous anti-Communist elements in 'threatened' countries. TP, 33
1948 Jul 6 China's Nationalist Mongolian-Tibetan Affairs Commission asks U.K.Foreign Office to discontinue Britain's special rights in Tibet. NY
1948 Aug-Sep Tibetan trade delegation meets with Sec. of State Marshall and through influence of Ilya Tolstoi meets Gen. Eisenhower, then President of Columbia University. TS, 296
1948 Aug-Sep Trade delegation meets with (candidate for?) Vice President. D3, 61
1948 Aug 1 Chinese Nationalists say Dalai Lama is praying for their victory over communists . NY
1948 Aug 9 U.S. Ambassador to India reports that India may not push for Tibetan autonomy as the British had done. FR
1948 Aug 9 Thousands of nomads attack Chamdo and Chaya in uprising against Regent Yung Tseng-daja (?), who considers resigning to avert civil war. NY
1948 Aug 12 Tibetan trade delegation visits New York City explaining that Tibet has its own government not under Chinese authority. NY
1948 Sep 21 Political split between Panchen Lama and Dalai Lama described. NY
1948 Oct 3 House report on China recommends U.S. give Nationalists a guarantee of territorial and political integrity. CQ1, 84
1948 Nov 2 Truman elected President. HE, 599
1948 Dec 9 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide approved by the U.N. General Assembly. HE, 646
1948 Dec 10 Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by U.N. General Assembly. HE, 645-646
1948 Dec 16 Acting Secretary of State Lovett says U.S. will definitely not get involved in Chinese civil war. CQ1, 85
1948 Dec 22 U.S. Ambassador to India wires Sec. of State that India feels a communist China would be more Asiatic and anti-Western and thus more cooperative with India than Nationalist China. FR

1949
1949 Jan 5 U.S. Ambassador to India informs Tibetan trade delegation that the U.S. recognizes Chinese 'suzerainty' over Tibet. FR, IX, 1065
1949 Jan 8 U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has urged for some time that the U.S. review its Tibet policy. The Embassy now proposes that a Communist victory in China should prompt U.S. recognition of Tibet as an independent country. FR, IX, 1065
1949 Feb 17 U.S. Ambassador to India tells State Dept. that India is balking at providing Tibet dollar exchange to purchase gold from the U.S. FR, IX, 1064
1949 Mar 24 Joint Chiefs memo says U.S. strategic interest in South Asia is negligible except for Pakistan's key role as a staging area for attacks on the U.S.S.R. or capture and defense of Middle East oilfields. FR
1949 Apr 12 Internal State Dept. memo: history of U.S.-Tibet relations; 'suzerainty' actually amounts to current Tibetan autonomy more than it does Chinese control or sovereignty over a vassal state; U.S. should refer in future instead to Chinese de jure authority over Tibet; Communist takeover in China would favor U.S. recognition of independent Tibet unless the Chinese Nationalist government survives; U.N. membership for Tibet depends upon Soviet actions, the practicality of U.S. support for Tibet and how long China will be disunited. FR, IX, 1065-71
1949 Apr 12 U.S. Embassy in India urges U.S. contacts with the Tibetan Government if for no other reason than to contain Communism. FR, IX, 1071
1949 May 3 Secretary Acheson refers to de facto Tibet Government purchase of gold from U.S. in wire to Embassy in India. FR, 1073
1949 May 3 Chennault urges U.S. to defend southern China. CQ1, 86
1949 May 21 U.S. Embassy in India reports to State Dept. doubts that India would use force in opposing a Chinese invasion of Tibet. India has advised the U.K. not to make a Lhasa visit in the summer. FR, IX, 1073
1949 Jun 4 U.S. charge in Moscow fully supports U.S. contacts with Tibet Government. FR, IX, 1075
1949 Jul 2 U.S. Embassy in India now more urgently proposes a U.S. mission to Lhasa since the Nationalist Chinese government is non-functioning. India has a monopoly over speedy communications and international relations between Tibet and the outside world. FR, IX, 1076
1949 Jul 2 Secretary of State reports to U.S. Embassy in India that U.S. gold sales to Tibet do not constitute official recognition of Tibet as a sovereign country, but that the U.S. is now reviewing its Tibet policy. FR, IX, 1077
1949 Jul 8 U.S. Ambassador to China seconds the idea of a U.S. mission to Lhasa especially now that U.S. recognition of Tibetan independence could be made prior to a Communist victory or before relations are established with a Communist China. FR, IX, 1078
1949 Jul 23 Chinese government representatives are expelled from Lhasa by the Tibetan Government. NY
1949 Jul 24 India sends envoy to Lhasa to report on expulsion of Chinese representatives. NY
1949 Jul 25 Ambassador Lo Chia Neun reports the expulsions were due to fears that the Chinese representatives were Communists. NY
1949 Jul 28 Secretary of State asks U.S. Embassy in India to consider covert missions to Lhasa. FR, IX, 1078
1949 Jul 30 U.S. Embassy in India reports Nationalist Chinese mission in Lhasa expelled, leaving India as the only nation with an official presence in Tibet. FR, IX, 1079
1949 Aug Nationalist China 'recognizes' the Sining candidate as the Seventh Panchen Lama in a manner contrary to Tibetan tradition. MG, 185
1949 Aug? Lowell Thomas, Sr. and Jr. visit Tibet and are in Lhasa for a little more than a week. TS, 298
1949 Aug 5 U.S. Embassy in India opposes a covert U.S. mission to Lhasa and again reports concern over India's monopoly on Tibet's world relations. FR,
1949 Aug 5 White paper on U.S. China policy issued secretly by U.S. State Department. CQ1, 87
1949 Aug 7 Chinese Nationalist Acting President Li appeals to Tibet to restore representatives in Lhasa. NY
1949 Aug 8 India-Bhutan border treaty. FW, 72
1949 Aug 11 Dalai Lama calls for religious rites and prayers to help stem Chinese Communist advances on Tibet. NY
1949 Aug 12 Panchen Lama seeking end of 25-year exile from Tibet. NY
1949 Aug 12 Adoption of Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Article 382 prohibits occupying powers from transferring parts of their own civilian population into occupied territories.
1949 Aug 29 First atomic test by the U.S.S.R. RP, 53
1949 Sep U.S. consulate in Sinkiang closes. MacKiernan and Bessac plan trek to India via Tibet. 1950 FR, VI, 358
1949 Sep 3 Chinese Communists vow to 'liberate' Tibet. NY
1949 Sep 3 U.S. detects radioactivity over Pacific from U.S.S.R. atomic test. RP, 53
1949 Sep 5 CIA begins covert programs to air-drop agents into Communist countries. TP, 42-43
1949 Sep 21 Panchen Lama seeks Chinese troop escort to Tibet. NY
1949 Sep 29 Chinese Communists declare previous KMT (Nationalist) international treaties will be reconsidered, opening the door to future territorial expansion. FW, 24
1949 Oct 1 People's Republic of China declared by Communists after Nationalists retreat to Taiwan and Burma. MS, 303
1949 Oct 11 Lowell Thomas, Sr. reports on his interview with Dalai Lama, who fears that the Tibetan Government will be overthrown if Communists invade. Tibetan population given as 3-5 million people. Fox said to have only shortwave sender in country and a powerful receiver. NY
1949 Oct 12 Secretary of State lists conditions for U.S. recognition of the People's Republic of China. CQ1, 87
1949 Oct 13 Nehru meets with President Truman and Secretary Acheson in Washington and says foreign-dominated communism is alien to the Chinese mind and that China is preoccupied with an agrarian revolution. FR
1949 Oct 17 Lowell Thomas brings messages from Dalai Lama and Regent to Truman and Acheson asking for U.S. aid against a Chinese Communist invasion. NY
1949 Oct 25 U.S. considering official recognition of Tibet. Dalai's unofficial requests for military assistance reported. U.S. Congress has recently approved $75 million in military aid to counter Chinese communism. NY
1949 Nov 2 Tibetan Government reasserts its independence and asks Mao for assurances that PLA troops won't cross border. Tibet asks for negotiations on Tibetan territories previously annexed by China. FR, IX, 1081
1949 Nov 16 Indian Prime Minister Nehru publicly claims Chinese 'suzerainty' over Tibet. FR, IX, 1082
1949 Nov 21 U.S. Embassy in India reports contents of Tibet Foreign Office letter to U.S. Secretary of State dated 11/4/49: PLA units have invaded Lanchow, Chinghai and Sinkiang, and infiltrate Amdo; Mao adopts aggressive attitude; Tibet requests U.S., U.K. and Indian aid; Indian government has decided to abandon Tibet except to supply small arms. FR, IX, 1080-82
1949 Nov 22 U.S. charge in India wires State Dept. that although U.K. policy is not finalized, U.K. is distressed that India is not upholding former British policy on Tibet. FR, IX, 1083
1949 Nov 23 U.S. charge in India wires State Dept. to report on U.K. policy: Tibet invasion not imminent, but Tibet should not provoke China by asserting its independence; Tibetans should be given weapons and encouraged to resist short of leaving the impression that major powers will assist militarily; U.K. worried about the fate of Nepal. FR, IX, 1084
1949 Nov 25 Chinese Communists urge Tibetans to revolt, claim the Panchen Lama has asked PLA troops to 'liberate' Tibet. NY
1949 Nov 28 Indian External Affairs minister publicly denies Tibet has asked for assistance from India. FR, IX, 1087
1949 Nov 28 U.K. reports to State Dept. that Tibet was told of a sympathetic consideration for its U.N. plea and U.K. wants to know the U.S. position. FR, IX, 1085
1949 Dec 1 U.S. Ambassador in India wires State Dept. to report that U.K. advising India on policy of passive restraint. U.S. surprised at India's public announcement that Tibet has not asked for assistance. FR, IX, 1087
1949 Dec 2 U.S.S.R. claims U.K. and U.S. want Tibet as a military base against China and calls Thomas visit interference. NY
1949 Dec 2 U.S. Ambassador in India wires State Dept. that India claims not to have received a plea from Tibet, but that India says she can do little other than warn Nepal. FR, IX, 1087
1949 Dec 3 Tibetan Cabinet wires U.S. State Dept.: Tibet is independent and opposes Communism; Tibet wants U.N. membership, most strongly asking for U.S. good offices. FR, IX, 1087
1949 Dec 7 Secretary of State Acheson wires U.S. Ambassador in India on latest Tibetan plea for U.N. membership, asking for Ambassador to obtain the British position. FR, IX, 1089
1949 Dec 8 U.S. Ambassador in India reports to State Dept.: India tending to forsake Nepal also; U.K. plan for a Lhasa mission has been scrapped; the Embassy now suggests no U.S. mission to Lhasa. FR, IX, 1089
1949 Dec 8 U.K. wires India the opinion that U.S.S.R. would veto a Tibetan application to U.N., suggesting Tibetans meet a U.K.-India team somewhere in India. FR, IX, 1090
1949 Dec 9 Acheson wires U.S. Ambassador in India to inform Tibetans that their request is being carefully considered, but tells the Ambassador that a U.S. mission to Lhasa is off. FR, IX, 1090
1949 Dec 12 U.K. official policy paper on Tibet places brunt on India but discourages Indian military assistance to Tibet. U.K. may supply some arms but policy is to do nothing other than publicly support Tibetan 'autonomy'. FR, IX, 1091
1949 Dec 14 S.J.J.Singh, president of the India League of America, says China infiltrating Tibet in prelude to revolution. NY
1949 Dec 14 U.S. Ambassador in India advises State Dept. to adopt U.K. policy: stop a Tibetan mission to the U.S. and stall on informing Tibet of a clear rejection of its U.N. appeal. FR, IX, 1091
1949 Dec 15 U.S. Ambassador in India repeats advice to State Dept. that U.S. put off Lhasa visit and not provoke U.S.S.R. by seeming to aid Tibet. FR, IX, 1092
1949 Dec 16 U.S. Ambassador in India tells State Dept.: Indian agent in Lhasa, Richardson, expects Chinese invasion next summer; 20,000 troops would be enough to defeat Tibetans; India had its agent in Lhasa, Dayal, argue against Tibetan letter of independence to Mao, but Tibet has now asked India for help in raising a Tibetan army of 100,000; Richardson thinks 50,000 is possible; Tibet may invoke Treaty of 1856 for protection by Nepal. FR, IX, 1093-95
1949 Dec 22 Tibet wires U.S. President and Secretary of State: crisis has been reached and a special mission is being sent to the U.S. consisting of Lachag Khenchung Thubten Sanghe and Rimshi Dingja. FR
1949 Dec 30 India recognizes the People's Republic of China. CQ1, 88
1949 Dec 30 Truman approves NSC 48/2 policy commitment on Asia, reducing defense of Taiwan. JS, 35
1949 Dec 30 U.S. Ambassador in India wires State Dept.: India's policy is to not ask China at all about Tibetan 'autonomy'; India has supplied Tibet with a negligible amount of arms; no decision reached on Tibet's U.N. plea. FR, IX, 1097

1950
1950 NSC 68 commits the U.S. to a massive military build-up. JS, 40
1950 Jan Truman announces the U.S. will not defend Taiwan. JS, 35
1950 Jan 1 Radio Peking announces PLA goal to 'liberate' Tibet. JA, 26
1950 Jan 5 U.S.S.R. press hints U.S.S.R. will back China's claim to Tibet. NY
1950 Jan 6 U.K. recognizes the People's Republic of China. CQ1, 88
1950 Jan 8 Radio Peking calls for early invasion to 'liberate' Tibet. NY
1950 Jan 10 U.S. Ambassador in India makes secret report to State Dept.: India has no intention to raise the Tibet issue with China and will not answer Tibet's request for two officers to train Tibetan troops other than a detachment at Gyantse; India disfavors Tibet's U.N. admission and says Tibet had not even asked India for help in this regard. FR, VI, 272
1950 Jan 11 State Dept. wires U.S. Ambassador in India a reply asking for final recommendation on a proposed U.S. Lhasa trip and its pleasure that India wants to maintain a diplomatic 'status quo'. FR, VI, 273
1950 Jan 12 Radio Peking reiterates Communist plans for Tibet. NY
1950 Jan 12 Secretary of State Acheson delivers a major speech before National Press Club on U.S.-Asia policy. Acheson defines U.S. primary goal as an undivided China. JS, 35
1950 Jan 12 Acheson sends a secret wire to U.S. Embassy in India: stop Tibetan Government mission to U.S., with U.K. and Indian assistance, if necessary; Acheson suggests a Tibetan visit might upset the Chinese. FR, VI, 275
1950 Jan 14 U.S. recalls all consular officials from China after China seizes the U.S. consulate in Peking. CQ1, 89
1950 Jan 20 U.S. Joint Chiefs recommend study of covert actions in Tibet. FR, VI, 7
1950 Jan 20 U.S. Ambassador in India replies to Acheson in secret cables: India is vague on the U.S. meeting with Tibetans in India as an alternative to a U.S. visit, Nehru thinks U.S. mission to Lhasa would hasten Chinese invasion. FR, VI, 283, 285
1950 Jan 22 Communist China demands Tibetans send representatives to Peking to settle status of Tibet and that Tibetan Government curtail 'unlawful' missions abroad. NY
1950 Jan 23 Chinese designs on Tibet confirmed by Chu Teh. NY
1950 Jan 24 Moscow reportedly spurring China to invade Tibet, which is seen to be occupied by Chinese Communist forces at the "earliest possible moment." . NY
1950 Jan 25 NYT editorial links Tibetans and Afghans to cold war battle with Russians in Southeast Asia. NY
1950 Jan 28 U.S.S.R. press reports 'liberation' of Tibet is imminent and U.S.-U.K. inspired coup attempt failed in Lhasa in summer of 1949 and that Sikh princes plot to use 'border province' as a base against Tibet. NY
1950 Jan 29 U.S.S.R. demands concessions from China on minorities policies at Moscow summit. NY
1950 Jan 31 Chinese communists again demand Tibetan Government send representatives to 'negotiate' in Peking, promise regional 'autonomy' and urge Tibetan Government to cancel 'foreign relations overtures' to Western nations. NY
1950 Jan 31 President Truman authorizes production of nuclear fusion (hydrogen) bombs by the U.S. RP, 56
1950 Jan 31 India-Nepal border treaty. FW, 70
1950 Jan 31 Tibet radio appeals for aid against Communist invasion. CQ1, 89
1950 Feb 1 Dalai Lama asks for foreign aid and radio transmitters to prevent Communist invasion. Tibet hopes to make regular broadcasts in three languages to keep world informed. NY
1950 Feb 3 Lhasa Government makes request from U.S. for high-powered radio transmitter. FR, VI, 362
1950 Feb 7 Prime Minister Nehru says India sees Tibet as 'autonomous' under nominal 'suzerainty' of China, but says Tibetans should decide their own future. NY
1950 Feb 14 Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance sets stage for nuclear cooperation and China gives up its claim to (Outer) Mongolia. FW, 24
1950 Feb 16 India backs status quo in Tibet and will support policy by diplomacy alone. NY
1950 Feb 23 Regent and Dalai Lama ask Indian President Prasad for stronger Tibet-India ties. NY
1950 Mar 1 Sec. of State sends secret wire to U.S. Embassy in India that State Dept. wants India to provide Tibet defense assistance and U.S. desires information on Tibetan plans to resist and its military needs. FR, VI, 314
1950 Mar 8 U.S. Ambassador in India wires top secret response listing level of Indian arms to Tibet. U.K. and U.S. both think Tibet needs military training for arms supply to be of any real use in opposing a full Chinese invasion. FR, VI, 317
1950 Mar 9 Tibetan Government recalls representatives sent abroad to assert national independence from Peking and urges former military commander Dzasa Yuthok to return from India. Austrian merchant Harrer named commander of E. Tibet frontier forces. Wealthy Tibetans preparing to leave Tibet. Religious institutions trying to save rare texts in Bhutan and Sikkim. NY
1950 Mar 12 900 Chinese troops occupy Kakhajar near Tibet frontier, political situation in Tibet deteriorating. NY
1950 Mar 12 U.S. Ambassador to India wires Sec. of State that India is convinced the U.S. supports Pakistan in dispute over Kashmir for U.S. strategic reasons. FR
1950 Apr 19 Sec. of State Acheson seeks to covertly strengthen Tibetan military, but U.S. relies on covert Indian aid to Tibet supplied by U.K. FR, VI, 330
1950 Apr 20 Tibet Government seeks better relations with China and top level talks. NY
1950 Apr 24 U.S. Ambassador in India wires Sec. of State that Tibetans chagrined at U.S. and other refusals of aid, and Shakabpa may begin negotiations for autonomy agreement with China. FR, VI, 331
1950 Apr 26 Soviet military jets supplied to China. LL, 7
1950 Apr 29 Vice Consul MacKiernan shot and killed by a Tibetan border patrol, Bessac continues on to Lhasa. FR, VI, 358
1950 May 10 After Radio Peking announces regional autonomy and religious freedom for Tibet if Tibet would agree to peaceful liberation' PLA units take Denko across the Yangtze, recaptured two weeks later by 600 Tibetan troops led by Muja Dapon with 600 Chinese dead. MP, 19-27
1950 May 10 Robert Ford in Chamdo receives radio signal from Tibetan radio operators in Denko on the Upper Yangtse that Chinese forces have invaded. Governor Lalhu decides to defend Chamdo at any cost. MP, 19
1950 May 13 Tibetan delegation to meet with Chinese representatives in Hong Kong. NY
1950 May 16 India denies Radio Moscow report that India grants U.S. permission to transit India with arms for Tibet. Tibetans seeking autonomy in exchange for pledge not to make ties to the West. China unlikely to invade Tibet until summer. NY
1950 May 23 Radio Peking urges Dalai Lama to accept allegiance to Communist government and pledges autonomy for Tibet. Chinese SW troops ready to invade Tibet. Dalai Lama's brother confers with Chiang Kai-shek on Taiwan on the future of Tibet. NY
1950 May 23 8-member delegation from Lhasa to go to Hong Kong for negotiations with Chinese Communists. NY
1950 Jun Pomdatsang brothers offer private Kham armies to both sides, China wins their support from base at Dartsedo. JA, 29
1950 Jun 3 State Department agrees with Tibetan Government request that no U.S. officials enter Tibet to meet Bessac's party from Sinkiang so as not to compromise Tibetan negotiations with China. FR, VI, 358
1950 Jun 5 U.S. embassy at Delhi confirms that China has invaded eastern Tibet and captured several villages and a mobile radio unit. FR, VI, 362
1950 Jun 6 Two members of Tibetan delegation denied permit to fly to Hong Kong from India purportedly due to visa problems. NY
1950 Jun 7 Three members of delegation arrive in New Delhi to meet with India Foreign Office and U.K. High Commissioner. NY
1950 Jun 8 Three members visas held up by U.K. NY
1950 Jun 9 Tibetan delegation makes unofficial visit to U.S. embassy in Delhi and admits Tibet made efforts for closer ties to the U.S. too late. FR, VI, 360
1950 Jun 11 Bessac arrives in Lhasa. FR, VI, 358
1950 Jun 14 State Dept. has no objections to selling napalm bombs to Chinese Government. FR, VI, 363
1950 Jun 15 Three members say they will assert Tibetan independence at meeting with China, but U.K. claims discussions will lead to Communist rule and cancels visas to Hong Kong. NY
1950 Jun 16 Shakabpa asks U.S. Embassy in Delhi whether U.S. will help Tibet in the event of a Chinese invasion. State Dept. believes small amount of covert assistance to Tibet could forestall Chinese invasion especially if U.S. and its allies were cool on changing Tibet's international status. U.K. representative pessimistic that U.K. could pressure India regarding aid to Tibet. FR, VI, 364, 424
1950 Jun 20 U.K. links recognition of Chinese sovereignty over Tibet to autonomy for Tibet, but is unwilling to confront China. U.K. believes Tibetans will only nominally resist. FR, VI, 365
1950 Jun 25 U.S. Army-State Dept. conference on U.S. intervention in Korea under U.N. aegis. JS, 35
1950 Jun 25 North Korean forces cross 38th parallel, U.N. calls for troops in Korea. CQ1, 90
1950 Jun 27 Truman approves air and ground attack on N. Korea. CQ1, 90
1950 Jul 11 U.S. interested in approaching Tibetan mission in India with promise of secret U.S. aid. FR, VI, 376
1950 Jul 14 Taiwan representatives say 20,000 Chinese troops have moved into Tibet. NY
1950 Jul 15 U.S. Embassy in Delhi doubts Korean conflict will spur India to assist Tibet and that India would oppose U.S. aid to Tibet. Ambassador suggests telling Tibetans that U.S. now willing to provide aid in principle and asking for particulars. FR, VI, 376
1950 Jul 21 Report from China discounts moves against Tibet. NY
1950 Jul 22 Sec. of State Acheson commits U.S. to secret aid to Tibetans, without the knowledge of India and with assurance that U.K. will not inform India. FR, VI, 386
1950 Jul 23 China will absorb Tibet by political, economic and military means. NY
1950 Jul 29 Tibetans in India say one American killed and one wounded in frontier guard error at Nakstang. Believed to be vice-consul from Urmchi missing since September 1949, D. MacKiernan and party. NY
1950 Jul 30 Armed Tibetans fighting PLA troops. Lhasa asks that Peking authorize Chinese Ambassador to India to discuss Tibet status. Tibet to seek status as buffer state. G.S. Gyamtso said to be vice president of a Chinese 'provisional government' in Tibet. U.S. State Dept. confirms MacKieran was killed April 3rd. NY
1950 Aug Tibetan Cabinet sends minister Ngabo Ngawang Jigme to assume Governor-Generalship at Chamdo. JA, 30
1950 Aug 1 Chinese Gen. Liu Po-cheng describes preparations for 'liberation' of Tibet. Shak Do Ton urges Chinese invasion. NY
1950 Aug 4 U.S. tells Shakabpa in Delhi that U.S. will provide Tibet financial and military aid, but Tibet must first ask India for more aid and if refused ask for cooperation with delivery of secret aid from U.S. Tibet says it can provide landing fields at Lhasa, Gartok and Chamdo, but U.S. response is cool to suggestions of flights from Burma or Pakistan if India uncooperative. Shakabpa says Tibet refuses Chinese suzereignty and is playing for time and welcomed U.K. refusal of visas to Hong Kong. Ambassador reports to Acheson that U.K. willing to replace Indian military stocks so that India can continue to provide aid to Tibet. FR, VI, 424
1950 Aug 5 CIA clandestine air forces in Asia begin flights over China to support Nationalist sabotage and guerilla operations. SS, 149
1950 Aug 6 Earthquake rocks SE Tibet and Assam, the 2nd largest ever recorded in the 20th century. Tibetans consider this an ill omen. MP, 31
1950 Aug 6 Gen. Liu Po-cheng promises regional rule, religious freedom and social reform to Tibetans. NY
1950 Aug 9 PLA troops march towards Tibet border. NY
1950 Aug 10 India Government denies Chinese troop movements and recognize Chinese claim to Tibet. NY
1950 Aug 13 800,000 PLA troops ready for invasion of Tibet, 'liberation' propaganda noted. NY
1950 Aug 14 U.S. Ambassador in India wires State Dept. that India has been told U.S. willing to aid Tibetan Government if Tibet first asks India. India has secretly urged China not to invade Tibet. FR, VI, 440
1950 Aug 15 Tibetan art exhibit opens in New York City. NY
1950 Aug 16 India High Commissioner Menon says in London that India is trying to moderate Chinese actions against Tibet. NY
1950 Aug 18 U.S. Embassy at Delhi informs Tibetan delegation in Calcutta that U.S. has told India of conditions for U.S. aid to Tibet via India. FR, VI, 440
1950 Aug 19 India Government disavows Menon's remarks reported 16 August. Tibetans in Calcutta disagree. NY
1950 Aug 20 China using political and religious strife to undermine Tibet. NY
1950 Aug 21 Bessac crosses Tibetan frontier into India. FR, VI, 358
1950 Aug 22 Tibet negotiating with China in India. NY
1950 Aug 23 China will invade Tibet from Sinkiang. NY
1950 Aug 25 China replies to India that it must maintain sovereignty over Tibet and did not wish for armed conflict. China has instructed its India ambassador to begin talks with Tibetans at Delhi, with final negotiations in Peking. FR, VI, 449
1950 Aug 25 Nehru says India wants peaceful settlement in China-Tibet talks. NY
1950 Aug 27 W. Churchill sees Chinese invasion of Tibet as imminent. NY
1950 Aug 28 Secret U.S. policy statement on Nepal: Permanent post in Kathmandu would provide U.S. a regular channel of information on Tibet, with whom Nepal has active foreign relations. Tibet still paying Nepal an annual tribute stemming from Nepal's 1854 invasion of Tibet. FR
1950 Aug 31 Peking informs India it wants settlement in New Delhi talks. NY
1950 Sep 1 China to confer with Tibet thru its Indian Embassy. NY
1950 Sep 6 Tibetans to confer with Nehru prior to meeting with Chinese Ambassador Yuan. NY
1950 Sep 9 Tibetan delegation meets with U.S. ambassador in India. Shakabpa says Tibetan Government has decided to forcefully resist Chinese incursion and is grateful for offer of U.S. military aid. Tibetans confirm concentrations of Chinese troops along border at Jyekundo, Nagchen, Degegonchen and Batang, and say weather conditions during the next five months would not prevent military operations. Tibetan Government disappointed with British attitude on Chinese suzereignty and hopes for full independence or status quo to be maintained. FR, VI, 493
1950 Sep 12 Nepalese concern reported at Tibet situation. NY
1950 Sep 15 Acting Sec. of State Webb sends top secret wire to U.S. Embassy in India that Tibetans have been informed of U.S. willingness to provide military assistance. U.S. also willing to supply radio transmitter, but U.S. believes direct coded radio communications between Lhasa and Washington impractical. Tibetans should continue to communicate with U.S. via Delhi embassy and Calcutta consulate. FR, VI, 503
1950 Sep 15 U.S. forces land at Inchon, Korea, as U.N. forces begin major offensive. CQ1, 92
1950 Sep 25 PLA troops combat Tibetans in Kham. NY
1950 Sep 28 Indonesia joins U.N. UN
1950 Oct 1 Dalai Lama's sister carries message from Lhasa to negotiators in New Delhi. NY
1950 Oct 2 Chinese Government calls for 'liberation' of Tibet by arms. NY
1950 Oct 3 China wants Tibet pact signed in Peking. NY
1950 Oct 7 84,000 PLA troops of 1st and 2d Field Armies under Gen. Liu Bating cross Yangtse and in six-prong attack hit border towns from Tsakhalo to Denko. China captures Khatang Dapon HQ at Rangsum and ferry post at Kamthog Druka. Tsakhalo holds but is cut off. Large town of Markham falls and Prince of Derge surrenders. Denko holds and Muja Dapon pushes Chinese back over the Yangtse but, outflanked to the north, retreats to protect Riwoche. Jyekundo occupied. JA, 30
1950 Oct 7 Ngabo wires news of invasion to Lhasa. Riwoche surrenders. Ngabo panics and asks Lhasa for permission to surrender, which the Tibetan Government refuses. JA, 31
1950 Oct 7 Khampas and Tibetan army in fierce resistance suffer 4,000 casualties. MG, 154
1950 Oct 7 U.S. troops cross 38th parallel in Korea. CQ1, 92
1950 Oct 7 China says PLA troops have liberated Sinkiang and entered northern Tibet. NY
1950 Oct 8 U.N. backs MacArthur plans for crossing 38th parallel towards the total occupation of Korea. Chinese embassy in India denies invasion of Tibet. Tibetan delegation says they have no information. NY
1950 Oct 9 MacArthur gives North Korea ultimatum to surrender or face invasion. NY
1950 Oct 12 India press says PLA troops are 50 miles into Kham. NY
1950 Oct 13 U.S. ambassador in India says India cannot confirm reports of Chinese invasion of Tibet. U.S. irritated that India has supported Chinese U.N. membership and conveyed Chinese intention to intervene in Korea. FR, VI, 531
1950 Oct 16 Chinese deny entering Tibet. Panchen Lama followers said to be in influx. NY
1950 Oct 17 Ngabo flees after ordering vital ammunition dump destroyed. Betrayed, the Khampas rampage. JA, 32
1950 Oct 18 Ngabo orders 500 of Muja Dapon's troops along with 1,500 of his own to surrender to 100 PLA artillery soldiers. JA, 32
1950 Oct 20 Tibetan forces under Ngabo surrender. MG, 160
1950 Oct 20 U.N. forces capture Pyongyang, North Korea. CQ1, 92
1950 Oct 22 PLA forces control Lho Dzong at Salween River. LT, 90
1950 Oct 25 Tibetan delegation suddenly leaves Delhi for Peking under instructions by Lhasa Government. FR, VI, 540
1950 Oct 25 Peking Radio announces PLA troop movements into Tibet are to stop 'imperialist oppression'. Tibetan delegation to go to Peking conference. China-Tibet relations since 1914 are reviewed. India concerned over talks. NY
1950 Oct 26 U.S. ambassador in India believes Tibetans have failed to discuss military aid from U.S. due to negative attitude of Indian Government. FR, VI, 540
1950 Oct 26 U.S. doubts invasion of Tibet, citing weather, even as China reports news of its military advances. Tibetan mission leader calls reports 'propaganda'. NY
1950 Oct 26 South Korean troops first encounter Chinese PLA forces at Manchuria border. CQ1, 92
1950 Oct 27 Sec. of State Acheson top secret wire to U.S. embassy in India urges Indian Government to forestall Chinese conquest of Tibet, but U.S. will not press India to take action. FR, VI, 545
1950 Oct 27 Tibetans in India confirm invasion. Peking-Nehru ties damaged. Indian army skeptical of reports. NY
1950 Oct 28 Indian representative in Lhasa confirms invasion to Nehru. LT, 91
1950 Oct 28 Nehru protests invasion to Peking, threatening 'action'. Peking downplays military moves. NY
1950 Oct 29 Indian Ambassador Panikkar confirms invasion. India-China relations strained. India may concede Tibet to China but hope for autonomy. Tibet appeals to India to raise issue in U.N. Pakistan says Chinese moves internal affair. NY
1950 Oct 30 PLA troops advance on Lhasa on four fronts. Tibetan mission leaves Calcutta. Peking surprised at Indian protest. NY
1950 Oct 31 U.S. ambassador in India thinks China will continue its conquest of Tibet regardless of Indian sensibilities. India has instructed its mission to remain open in Lhasa and its military training mission to stay in Gyantse. India has also advised Tibetans not to send delegation to Peking at time of military invasion. FR, VI, 548
1950 Oct 31 PLA troops 200 miles from Lhasa. 'People's forces' rising against Lhasa. Ambassador comments on invasion. NY
1950 Nov Dalai Lama's brother Taktser Rinpoche (Thupten Jigme Norbu) arrives in Lhasa after being held under duress in Amdo. He witnessed destruction of Kumbum Monastery and reports that Sining Governor wanted him to betray Tibet so that it could be annexed to China. D3, 53-54
1950 Nov 1 Sec. of State Acheson says at news conference that very little information was available about situation in Tibet, but the U.S. would view seriously any new evidence of Communist aggression there. FR, VI, 551
1950 Nov 1 50,000 PLA troops 100 miles from Lhasa. Peking says invasion is internal affair and rejects Indian protest. China offers to negotiate with Tibetan delegation in India. NY
1950 Nov 2 U.S. ambassador in India discusses Chinese invasion of Tibet with Nehru, who urges U.S. to do nothing. FR, VI, 550
1950 Nov 2 Second diplomatic note from India opposes China. India Cabinet Minister Patel praises Tibet as peaceful country. India will not withdraw troops from trade route and Gyantse. China pushing indoctrinated border Tibetans into Tibet. Tibetan Government stymied. Dalai Lama may flee. Peking Radio says Chamdo captured along with two Britons and two Indians. China claims war campaign began October 7th with Gen. Liu Po-cheng's 2d field army taking Markham Dzong with no opposition. China says garrison and its leader defected. Secretary of State Acheson declines comment but says U.S. is concerned. NY
1950 Nov 3 India asks Tibetan mission to Peking to wait for cease-fire, condemns invasion and says Sino-Indian relations damaged. China says India influenced by U.S. and U.K. attempt to control Tibet. Moscow press article supports China. India-China diplomatic exchange published. NY
1950 Nov 3 PLA troops begin counter-attack on U.N. forces in Korea. CQ1, 92
1950 Nov 4 PLA troops 135 miles from Lhasa. Chamdo taken. Tibetan Government to flee. India may raise issue at U.N. NY
1950 Nov 5 Communications restored between Lhasa and Delhi. LT, 94
1950 Nov 5 India says Lhasa-New Delhi radio dead for six days. UP says Dalai Lama may be held by pro-Communist Tibetans. Major impact on Sino-Indian relations seen. NY
1950 Nov 6 Indian agent in Lhasa, S. Sinha, says Dalai Lama still in Lhasa and that Chamdo was taken with help from deserting Tibetan troops. He says Tibetan Government stopped Peking delegation and may appeal to U.N. Panchen Lama with PLA 100 miles from Lhasa. London stock market reacts. NY
1950 Nov 7 PLA at Reting, 60 miles from Lhasa, and advance toward Gartok. Tibetans may oppose own Government and aid overthrow. U.K. may appeal to U.N. Security Council. NY
1950 Nov 7 Tibetan Cabinet cables appeal to U.N. via India. Full text: D1, 249-253; HC, 75
1950 Nov 8 U.S. silent on Chinese war against Tibet. Interim Tibetan Government orders troops not to resist. NY
1950 Nov 9 Sec. of State Acheson refers to Chinese Communist invasion of Tibet in wire to U.S. Asian consulates. FR, VI, 157
1950 Nov 9 PLA 40 miles from Lhasa, which is surrounded. Pro-China government orders troops not to resist. India claims it has no further news. NY
1950 Nov 9 Chinese troops reported in Lhasa. CQ1, 92
1950 Nov 10 Indian press report from Kalimpong says Peking radio has announced a Tibet-China agreement and cease-fire. LT, 95
1950 Nov 10 Patel condemns Chinese attack on Tibet. FR
1950 Nov 10 Minister Patel urges Indians to resist incursions on northern frontier. PLA troops by-pass Phondo Dzong. Tibetan Government distressed and considers capitulation. Peking notes Pakistani criticism of Nehru's objections to invasion. Communist 'reforms' in occupied Tibet described. NY
1950 Nov 11 Tibetan leaders wire an appeal to the U.N. from Kalimpong. Full text: D1, 249-253; MG, 160
1950 Nov 11 India says Tibet asks U.N. mediation, but deny Voice of America broadcasts that PLA have entered Lhasa. India rejects Chinese demand that Indian troops withdraw. U.N. reluct to take up Tibet issue. NY
1950 Nov 12 Ambassador Henderson says U.S. will not intervene. Tibetan Cabinet split on resistance. Some PLA defection in Kham under Gen. Lin Wen-hui. China repeats 'offer' of religious freedom and autonomy. NY
1950 Nov 14 Tibetan National Assembly sends peace delegation to meet invaders to make truce. Earlier reports of leftist seizure of Tibetan Government in error. Tibet asks U.N. aid, asserting independence since 1914, but no nation is willing to raise issue in Security Council. National Assembly orders Peking mission to halt until Chinese withdraw troops. Sinha reports Lhasa quiet. India Parliament backs second Nehru protest. Some invaders are mounted Chinese Moslems. NY
1950 Nov 15 Prasad backs Tibetan autonomy. Tibetans in India hope that cease-fire efforts will spare Lhasa from attack. India wary of Chinese forces nearby. Possible Peking order of cease-fire. NY
1950 Nov 16 Sec. of State Acheson informs U.S. delegation at U.N. to follow India's lead on Tibet and make to most of propaganda value to help U.S. positions on Formosa and Korea. U.S. will not take initiative and doubts U.N. action would preserve Tibetan autonomy. FR, VI, 577
1950 Nov 16 U.N. delegate from El Salvador asks General Assembly to debate Tibet invasion. Sinha denies Tibet-China pact on Tibet status. U.S. pushes India role on Tibet. El Salvador pressured to drop matter. PLA stalled at Lharigno, 250 miles NE of Lhasa. NY
1950 Nov 17 Dalai Lama assumes full leadership of Tibet at age 15, undermining Panchen Lama. China again rejects Indian protests as interference in internal affairs. El Salvador refuses to drop Tibet issue. NY
1950 Nov 18 Tibet to send three delegates to U.N. Indian official says India will back Tibet at U.N. NY
1950 Nov 19 El Salvador offers U.N. resolution condemning invasion. China claims U.S.-U.K. plot to undermine Sino-Indian relations. NY
1950 Nov 21 Nehru says India accepts McMahon line fixing NE border with Tibet since 1914 and sends further troop reinforcements to northern frontier. U.N. holds off resolution discussion. NY
1950 Nov 22 Three-man U.N. delegation leaves Lhasa. U.S.S.R. had surveyed Tibet in April-June 1950 for air bases. NY
1950 Nov 23 U.S.S.R. role in Tibet described. NY
1950 Nov 24 U.N. General Assembly votes unanimously to postpone consideration of Tibet question based upon India's hope that China will make peaceful settlement. U.K. representative says legal situation of Tibet is obscure. FR, VI, 583
1950 Nov 24 Nehru says India will keep diplomatic representatives in Tibet in accord with treaties despite invasion. Further reports on U.S.S.R. role in Tibet. NY
1950 Nov 25 U.N. postpones action when India says Tibet and China can reach settlement. NY
1950 Nov 26 U.S. Senator Knowland attacks India for lack of firm stand against invasion. India resists Chinese claim to border areas. NY
1950 Nov 26 China sends 300,000 troops across border into North Korea against U.S. and U.N. forces. JS, 100
1950 Nov 28 NSC meeting concurs with MacArthur's defensive posture in Korea considering extent of Chinese forces. JS, 107
1950 Nov 29 Dalai Lama sends treasure to Phari Dzong. NY
1950 Nov 30 U.S. ambassador in India wires Sec. of State that India has not challenged Chinese claims to Tibet and that supposed assurances from China which postponed U.N. debate are dubious. FR, VI, 584
1950 Dec India-Sikkim border treaty. FW, 71
1950 Dec Before leaving Lhasa for Yatung, Dalai Lama appoints Lobsang Tashi and Lukhangwa as Prime Ministers. D1, 85
1950 Dec 1 Dalai Lama ready to flee. Gold transfer to Sikkim. El Salvador urges U.N. action on China invasion. NY
1950 Dec 1 Secret U.S. policy statement on India: U.S. wants Indian manganese for steel industry and access to Indian air transport services. U.S. should offer to develop air navigation and communications facilities. FR
1950 Dec 2 Tibet urges action on U.N. resolution. NY
1950 Dec 3 China reports capture of Lolungchung. Tibetan Cabinet prepares for relocation of administration. NY
1950 Dec 5 British radio operator Robert Ford said captured and charged with killing a lama. (See his: Captured in Tibet) NY
1950 Dec 8 U.S. Commerce Dept. complete embargo of China. CQ1, 93
1950 Dec 9 Peking radio says Tibetans released after indoctrination. NY
1950 Dec 12 China establishes a government in western Sikang province formerly under Lhasa control. Nehru says PLA has not passed Chamdo. NY
1950 Dec 13 Peking radio says Tingching captured. NY
1950 Dec 14 Sec. of State Acheson actively exploring possible joint U.S.-U.K.-India effort to obstruct or halt Chinese assault against Tibet, which he reports has been slowed or stalled by winter. FR, VI, 602
1950 Dec 16 Sec. of State sent secret wire concerning U.K. diplomatic conference mentioning Chinese invasion of Tibet. FR, VI, 181
1950 Dec 18 India believes Tibet's military situation is hopeless. FR, VI, 603
1950 Dec 19 Dalai Lama leaves Lhasa for Yatung near Sikkim border. HC, 76
1950 Dec 21 Tibetan delegation to U.N. at Kalimpong asks U.S. in letter for help in bringing Tibet matter before the United Nations. FR, VI, 611
1950 Dec 21 British Foreign Office believes U.S.S.R. convinced China that U.K. was prompting Indian designs on Tibet. FR, VI, 184
1950 Dec 24 Dalai Lama grants amnesty to Tibet dissidents. NY
1950 Dec 25 Tibetan Foreign Secretary Dzasa Surkang says guerilla warfare against Chinese will result if no outside aid arrives. NY
1950 Dec 26 Dalai Lama fleeing to India. New PLA military moves. NY
1950 Dec 27 Government of India expecting Dalai Lama to stay there in exile, he is in transit and should arrive in Gyantse shortly. FR, VI, 611
1950 Dec 27 India orders Tibetans to get permits and register as foreigners to enter India. NY
1950 Dec 28 Tibetan Government to relocate near India border. NY
1950 Dec 30 Secret memo from U.S. State Dept. to British Embassy states universal recognition of Tibet's de facto autonomy since 1914. Depending upon conditions Tibet could be recognized by U.S. as an independent State. FR, VI, 612-613
1950 Dec 30 Dalai Lama in transit to Yatung. Tibetan officials confer in Kalimpong, India. Panchen Lama to be installed by China as new Tibet regime. NY
1950 Dec 30 U.S. embargoes trade with mainland China. CQ1, 63
1950 Dec 31 PLA massed at Rudok. India urges Dalai Lama to defer flight to India until China threat more imminent. NY

1951
1951 Gyalo Thondup and CIA establish intelligence-gathering operation. JA, 47
1951 Jan 1 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees becomes operational. HE, 646
1951 Jan 2 Indian agent Sinha reportedly ousted from Lhasa by pro-Communists. Dalai Lama in transit to Yatung. NY
1951 Jan 4 Dalai Lama arrives at Yatung near Indian border. MG, 168
1951 Jan 4 Sinha expulsion not confirmed in India. NY
1951 Jan 5 Sinha moving to Gyantse. Chinese Communist mission in Lhasa. NY
1951 Jan 6 Sec. of State Acheson sends top secret wire to India embassy that Tibetans should be told U.S. is sympathetic to U.N. appeal and continued Tibetan autonomy. U.S. also believes every effort should be made to hinder Communist occupation of Tibet, although conquest of Tibet seems very probable. FR, VI, 618
1951 Jan 7 Dalai Lama's representatives reach Gangtok in Sikkim. NY
1951 Jan 8 Government aides join Dalai Lama. NY
1951 Jan 9 Chinese flag raised in Lhasa. NY
1951 Jan 12 Refuge prepared at Gangtok for the Dalai Lama. NY
1951 Jan 12 Joint Chiefs of Staff recommends U.S. attack Chinese targets in Manchuria, blockade Chinese ports, and support Nationalists in attack on mainland. CQ
1951 Jan 13 India bars press from entry to Tibet at Tibetan request. NY
1951 Jan 14 Dalai Lama representatives in Lhasa negotiate with Chinese. He will return to capital under right conditions. PLA near Shigatse. NY
1951 Jan 19 Dalai Lama urges Cabinet to speed U.N. plea. NY
1951 Jan 20 Psychological warfare used against Tibetans. Chamdo supposedly taken with fireworks display. NY
1951 Jan 21 Indian official says Chinese do not control Tibet. Tibetan officials say PLA as far as Gartok and Lharigo. NY
1951 Jan 22 NSC 98/1 on U.S. policy on South Asia says Tibet invasion a factor in threat of loss of India to Communism. Critical for U.S. to develop joint U.S.-U.K. policies to oppose U.S.S.R. inroads and keep U.S. access to strategic resources of India. FR
1951 Jan 26 PLA troops withdrawn from northern and western areas of Tibet. NY
1951 Jan 27 PLA goal to take Tibet in 1951 described. NY
1951 Feb 3 PLA surrounding Lhasa, advance troops at India and western borders. India bolsters border guards. Ganden, Sera, and Drepung monasteries confer with Dalai Lama. NY
1951 Feb 11 China insists on Tibet talks in Peking. NY
1951 Feb 14 Secret U.S.-U.K. talks in London: U.S. still supporting Tibetan appeal to U.N. but will not initiate any action. U.K. agrees to defer to India, and admits U.N. action would be minimal other than to emphasize a "moral aspect." FR
1951 Feb 15 Chinese troops cross India's northeast border. NY
1951 Feb 25 Dalai Lama's brother in Yatung for talks. NY
1951 Feb 27 China-Tibet talks near. NY
1951 Feb 28 Dalai Lama's mother in India on pilgrimage. NY
1951 Mar 3 Dalai Lama's mother describes Chinese peace offer. NY
1951 Mar 6 Agreement on Tibet autonomy. NY
1951 Mar 9 Two delegations on way to Peking. China to end war with assurance of Tibet autonomy. Tibetans surrender due to apathy. NY
1951 Mar 13 China border crossing incident downplayed by India. NY
1951 Mar 14 Nehru ready to withdraw troops from trade routes. NY
1951 Mar 14 Finance Secretary (Tsepon) Shakabpa cleared of unduly delaying mission to Peking. NY
1951 Mar 22 Tibet mission led by Dzasa Kunsang to first meet with Nehru. Pravda says a Tibetan lama visits Mao. NY
1951 Mar 24 Chinese refugee tells of difficulties of military invasion. NY
1951 Mar 30 China in control of western Tibetan passes. NY
1951 Apr 2 Tibetan mission in New Delhi. NY
1951 Apr 6 China to build road to Chamdo. NY
1951 Apr 7 Dalai Lama to return to Lhasa. NY
1951 Apr 11 MacArthur replaced by Ridgeway for publicly stating plans to widen war against China. CQ0, 56
1951 Apr 20 Tibetan mission in Hong Kong says no PLA troops in Tibet proper. NY
1951 Apr 22 Tibet mission leaves for Peking. NY
1951 Apr 28 Panchen Lama celebrated in Peking. NY
1951 Apr 29 Sino-Tibetan negotiations begin in Peking. MG, 169
1951 Apr 29 In negotiations, Chang Guo-hua cites the Panchen Nangma-gang and the Tashi-lhunpo Labrang as reasons Chinese troops are in Tibet. TK, 152-3
1951 May 23 17-Point Agreement signed in Peking without approval of the Dalai Lama or the Tibetan Government. History Notes Text JA, 35-36
1951 May 24 Tibetan Government returning to Lhasa. NY
1951 May 28 China-Tibet agreement signed: Tibet to be autonomous, with its own political and religious institutions, and China to control defense and foreign affairs. Panchen Lama to leave Kumbum for Tibet. NY
1951 May 29 India upset with pact, may ask China for clarification. NY
1951 May 30 Four Peking-trained Tibetans to administer Lhasa with PLA commander Chi Chang-chen. Unrest feared at return of Panchen Lama. NY
1951 May 31 Pravda says U.K. illegally took Bhutan and Sikkim in 1890. NY
1951 Jun Taktser Rinpoche writes Dalai Lama from Calcutta advising him to flee to India at once. D3, 64
1951 Jun 3 Peking appoints Chang Ching-wu (Zhang Jinwu) to implement pact. NY
1951 Jun 9 Peking radio says PLA preparing to occupy Tibet. NY
1951 Jun 12 Nehru says India accepts Communist sovereignty over Tibet. NY
1951 Jun 13 Peking radio says China to study conditions in Tibet. NY
1951 Jun 19 Dalai Lama undecided on return to Lhasa, some ministers advise rule from India until Communism defeated. NY
1951 Jun 22 Pact signing on May 24 illustrated. Mao meets with Panchen Lama. NY
1951 Jun 28 Chinese-Tibetan group arrives at Hong Kong en route to administer pact in Tibet. NY
1951 Jul Taktser Rinpoche (Dalai Lama's brother) meets with U.S. State Dept. officials. FR
1951 Jul Taktser Rinpoche writes Dalai Lama from Calcutta that the U.S. consulate has granted Taktser permission to enter the U.S. U.S. has suggested that once Dalai Lama enters exile in India, U.S. aid may be forthcoming. D3, 65
1951 Jul U.S. may be urging Dalai Lama via coded radio between Yatung and Kalimpong to flee Tibet and publicly repudiate the May 23rd Agreement. MG, 174
1951 Jul 2 Chinese mission to Tibet in India. NY
1951 Jul 6 Communist mission to Tibet in India. NY
1951 Jul 9 Dalai Lama's brother Taktser Rinpoche in U.S. NY
1951 Jul 14 Gen. Chang Ching-wu arrives in Yatung for talks with Dalai Lama. MG, 175
1951 Jul 16 Dalai Lama meets Gen. Chang Ching-wu. MG, 175
1951 Jul 16 Dalai Lama to return to Lhasa, PLA troops expected there. NY
1951 Jul 17 Dalai Lama summons Tibetan officials from Kalimpong, India, where much wealth reportedly is left behind. NY
1951 Jul 18 Dalai Lama ready to repudiate pact with China. NY
1951 Jul 23 Dalai Lama en route to Lhasa. NY
1951 Aug 1 U.S. ends tariff concessions to Communist-controlled lands.
1951 Aug 4 India heightens border security with increased PLA troop activity. NY
1951 Aug 6 Road being built from Kham to Lhasa. Dalai Lama and Chinese missions near Lhasa. NY
1951 Aug 12 China plans road from Lhasa to Taklokot. NY
1951 Aug 18 Dalai Lama returns to Lhasa greeted by host. NY
1951 Aug 23 China in military control of western Tibet. NY
1951 Aug 28 PLA troops mass to control passes into India and Nepal. Tibetan parliament to ratify pact. NY
1951 Sep 8 Japanese Peace Treaty signed by 49 nations in San Francisco. C1, 96
1951 Sep 9 3,000 Chinese troops enter and begin occupation of Lhasa. 17,000 more troops arrive within 3 months. JA, 37
1951 Sep 15 PLA troops in Lhasa. NY
1951 Sep 16 Dalai Lama's brother Gyalo Thondup says communism fails in Tibet. NY
1951 Sep 25 Panchen Lama leaves Kumbum for Tashilhunpo, said to take religious leadership from Dalai Lama. NY
1951 Sep 27 PLA troops confirmed in Lhasa. NY
1951 Oct 2 China plans airfield near Lhasa. NY
1951 Oct 6 Stalin confirms U.S.S.R. atomic tests. CQ1, 96
1951 Oct 7 PLA in control of Lhasa-India road. NY
1951 Oct 14 Tibet wants change in pact, delays signing. NY
1951 Oct 17 PLA troops headed for Shigatse. Dalai Lama appoints civil administration. NY
1951 Oct 19 Chinese occupation military orders confiscation of properties of nobles and officials. NY
1951 Oct 23 Monasteries refuse to disarm, PLA reinforces Lhasa. NY
1951 Oct 26 Another 5000 Chinese troops arrive in Lhasa. MG, 179
1951 Oct 26 Battle Act restricts third-country transfer of strategic materials to China and U.S.S.R. FR
1951 Oct 28 Dalai Lama ratifies pact. NY
1951 Oct 29 India Ambassador Panikkar says China implements Nationalist policy in Tibet. Further property seizures linked to supposed declaration of equality for women by military occupiers. NY
1951 Nov 8 PLA planes to Lhasa. Reportedly General Chang gives money to monasteries. More PLA troops on India and Nepal borders. NY
1951 Nov 10 National Parliament (Tsongdu) to discuss pact. Gen. Chang to leave. NY
1951 Nov 13 PLA troops enter Gyantse, where India has troops which will withdraw if asked. NY
1951 Nov 18 Tsongdu ratifies pact with China. Gen. Chang Kuo-hua (?) to replace Chang. NY
1951 Nov 20 Dalai Lama prepares to welcome Panchen Lama. PLA troops cause inflation of prices in Gyantse. NY
1951 Nov 21 Mao hails pact in message to Dalai Lama. NY
1951 Nov 24 More PLA troops arrive in Tibet and more planned. NY
1951 Dec 4 PLA troops near Bhutan border. Chinese collaborator and ex-president of Tibetan 'provisional government' is in Tibet as an aide to Panchen Lama. NY
1951 Dec 5 PLA enters Yatung. Military opens a Marxist cultural dept. NY
1951 Dec 15 Panchen Lama leaves for Lhasa. Lama in Nepal lauds Chinese treatment of Tibetans. NY

1952
1952 Truman approves CIA plan for 10,000 Chinese Nationalist troops in Burma to invade China. Early this year they do so and are crushed. TP, 92
1952 Jan Truman privately considers and rejects an ultimatum to China and U.S.S.R. over Korea, threatening nuclear devastation in Asia. RP, 59
1952 Jan 11 PLA airlift to Lhasa fails, troops loot villages in Shigatse area. NY
1952 Feb 1 Khampa tribes refuse to disarm. China builds up Chamdo as administrative center, leaving Lhasa as religious center. NY
1952 Feb 13 Top secret memo of State Dept. meeting with Taktser Rinpoche in Washington: Tibet trying to temporarily adjust to Chinese and hopes U.S. will keep silent publicly while still supporting Tibet. U.S. expresses sympathy for Tibetan loss of traditional religious and political freedom and pledges continued friendship with Tibet, while agreeing not to make statements. FR
1952 Feb 15 Panchen Lama en route to Shigatse. NY
1952 Feb 20 Tibetan army merged into PLA forces under supposed direction of two Cabinet ministers. Dalai Lama's mother and brother leave for India. NY
1952 Feb 21 Top secret cable from U.S. Ambassador to India to President Truman: India needs food assistance and economic aid to forestall a Communist victory as in China. FR
1952 Mar 15 PLA strengthens Phari garrison at India-Tibet border. NY
1952 Mar 17 India press says PLA has seized food supply in Tibet. NY
1952 Mar 21 China may ask India to remove trade route troops. NY
1952 Mar 30 Chinese troops mass strength at western Tibetan border with India. NY
1952 Apr 2 China asks U.S.S.R. technicians for aid in exploiting Tibet. NY
1952 Apr 24 Tibetan Government asks PLA troops to leave Lhasa as dissent grows over famine caused by China. Tibetans ask for arms to fight Chinese. NY
1952 Apr 25 PLA pulls back from Yatung after delivering two Indian radio operators across border. NY
1952 Apr 26 PLA tightens security as unrest grows. NY
1952 Apr 27 Fearing Chinese reprisals, Dalai Lama reluctantly asks Lukhangwa and Lobsang Tashi to resign, taking on their responsibilities himself. MG, 190
1952 Apr 28 Panchen Lama arrives in Lhasa for the first time from Peking. AC, 76
1952 May Robert Linn replaced by John Turner as CIA base chief, senior officer in Calcutta. KB, 23
1952 May 1 Chinese pressure the Dalai Lama to disband the Mimang Tshogpa, or People's Party. MG, 200
1952 May 3 Chinese censor mail in Tibet. China asks India for supplies. NY
1952 May 4 Lhasa PLA garrison suffers armed attack by Tibetans. NY
1952 May 5 PLA search and seizure of Lhasa arms. NY
1952 May 6 PLA troops patrol Lhasa streets. Chinese deserter captured in Yatung. NY
1952 May 7 India denies knowledge of Lhasa fighting. NY
1952 May 9 Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama meet in Lhasa. NY
1952 May 14 Top secret State Dept. memo evaluates Taktser Rinpoche's information: Dalai Lama is organizing resistance to Chinese occupation while appearing to please China; Lhasans have renounced support for puppet Cabinet and sworn opposition to Chinese; and, Panchen Lama secretly opposes China as well. State Dept. believes 10-15,000 Chinese troops in Tibet, 5,000 at or near Lhasa. Chinese have caused an acute food shortage with massive army presence. Incipient Tibetan resistance movement is growing and desired effect is being felt by India. State Dept. affirms policy of no publicity about events concerning Tibet. FR
1952 May 16 China removes Tibetan Cabinet, sets up administrative committee with Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama. Seized estates restored to Panchen Lama. NY
1952 May 22 Dalai Lama, under Chinese pressure, fires Prime Minister Sawang Lukhang after anti-Chinese demonstrations. NY
1952 Jun 4 Nepali representative asked to leave Shigatse residence for use by Panchen Lama. NY
1952 Jun 5 Nehru confirms Lhasa fighting. Gen. Chang Ching-wu calls Lhasa meeting to pacify Tibetan dissent. NY
1952 Jun 10 Nepal representative talks with Dalai Lama. NY
1952 Jun 12 Mrs. Pandit reported to have told Chou in Peking that India recognizes Chinese 'suzereignty' over Tibet. 1952-54 FR, XIV, 63
1952 Jun 13 Chinese heavily repress Lhasa demonstrators. NY
1952 Jun 22 Nehru says Tibet no longer independent. India will remove Indian troops from Yatung and Gyantse if asked. NY
1952 Jun 24 Panchen Lama returns to Shigatse. NY
1952 Jul 1 Dalai Lama tells U.S. that Tibetans are not pro-Chinese, food situation in Lhasa is very bad, and 90% of the 10,000 Chinese troops in Lhasa are poorly fed. 1952-54, FR, XIV, 96
1952 Jul 10 PLA garrisons Yatung to secure trade route. NY
1952 Aug 6 U.S. embassy in New Delhi instructed to warn Gyalo Thondup and his wife from linking themselves or Tibet with the United States. 1952-54 FR, XIV, 96
1952 Aug 8 Tibetan Government to send goodwill mission to Peking. NY
1952 Aug 12 Kungo Rampa named first permanent representative from Tibet in Peking. Children of Tibetan officials to tour China. NY
1952 Aug 20 U.S. embassy in New Delhi recommends against using Gyalo Thondup for information from Calcutta or Darjeeling for fear of arousing suspicion. 1952-54 FR, XIV, 96
1952 Aug 22 Tibetans waiting for opportune moment to strike occupation forces. Economy worsens under communism. Monks and nobility lead opposition to Chinese military rule. NY
1952 Aug 23 PLA troops entrenched on trade route near India, survey area. NY
1952 Aug 24 Tibetans in Sikkim say communism not wanted in Tibet. Sikkim's influence described. NY
1952 Aug 26 China plans occupation army of 200,000 troops. Tibetans form secret 'peoples committees' in defiance of China and with support of Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama rejects puppet chairmanship of proposed political and military committee on their advice. Tibetan officials cooperating but ready to rebel. Tibetan troops attack PLA troops in several battles and are segregated. NY
1952 Aug 31 Indian reaction to Chinese rule in Tibet. NY
1952 Sep 3 J.J. Singh on why U.N. dropped case against Chinese invasion. NY
1952 Sep 6 U.S. consul in Calcutta meets with Gyalo Thondup in Darjeeling; food situation poor, but Dalai Lama has reduced taxes and two-thirds of grain reserves. 1952-54 FR, XIV, 96
1952 Sep 6 PLA ships guns from Lhasa to Yatung by night. NY
1952 Sep 10 U.S. consulate in Calcutta says Chinese slowly consolidating control of Tibet, but Tibetans restive and Dalai Lama's influence is gaining. 1952-54 FR, XIV, 96
1952 Sep 14 Tibetan goodwill mission to China has its movements controlled en route. NY
1952 Oct CIA officer Larry Dalley replaced by Kenneth Millian in Calcutta under cover as vice consul. KB, 23
1952 Oct 7 China introduces wheeled military vehicles into Tibet. NY
1952 Oct 24 Candidate Eisenhower says he will go to Korea if elected to work to end the war. JS, 236
1952 Nov 2 Eisenhower elected President. HE, 599
1952 Nov 4 Truman signs NSCID 6 creating National Security Agency to intercept communications world-wide. NSA later creates a separate section for Chinese intercepts, recording and documenting its growing control of Tibet. NW, 264
1952 Nov 10 Forty dead in battles between PLA and tribesmen. NY
1952 Nov 11 China building Lhasa-Kangting road. NY
1952 Nov 14 PLA troops enter Nepal from Taklakot. NY
1952 Nov 23 India wary of Communist aggression but placates China for sake of 'Asian stability'. NY
1952 Nov 26 Peking radio says Mao urges Tibetan population rise to 10 million indicating possible Chinese intention for massive population transfer into Tibet. Mao says Tibetan economy and culture need development and religion will be protected. NY
1952 Dec 27 Peking to establish six-man staffed office for Dalai Lama. NY

1953
1953 Jan Eisenhower ends U.S. blockade of Taiwan Strait. JS, 241
1953 Jan 7 Truman confirms U.S. has hydrogen bomb. CQ1, 100
1953 Jan 10 2,000 camels sent to Tibet to expedite PLA troop movement. NY
1953 Jan 23 Peking press denounces U.S. plans for atomic attack. LL, 14
1953 Feb Eisenhower considers using atomic bomb in Korea. JS, 241
1953 Feb 3 China building three military roads in Tibet. NY
1953 Feb 10 U.S. reported stepping up arms supplies to Chiang regime. CQ1, 100
1953 Mar 5 Stalin dies. HE, 541
1953 Apr 2 NSC 147 reviews possible use of nuclear weapons against Korea and China. LL, 255
1953 May 29 Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary become the first climbers to reach the peak of Mount Everest, Chomolungma.
1953 Jun U.S. Air Force orders construction of B-52s, capable of delivering H-bombs on U.S.S.R. and China. RP, 63
1953 Jul U.S. and India dispute over Indian sales of thorium nitrate to China, despite secret sales of monzanite to U.S. FR
1953 Jul 27 Korean war ends with near 3 million casualties in total and the whole peninsula in ruins. U.S. uses 386,000 tons of bombs and 32,000 tons of napalm, costs run to $83 billion by 1956. JS, 253
1953 Aug 20 U.S.S.R. announces it has tested hydrogen bomb. CQ
1953 Sep 3 U.S. Decides not to terminate aid to India over thorium issue but begins buying Indian thorium nitrate and beryl in large quantity. FR
1953 Sep 24 China enlarges garrisons in southern and western Tibet. India asks for conference on Indians in Tibet. Nehru says relations with China are friendly. NY
1953 Oct 22 China agrees to confer with India in December in Peking on various issues. NY
1953 Oct 27 India recalls Ambassador Raghavan for pre-conference talks. NY
1953 Oct 30 NSC 162/2 establishes U.S. foreign policy on nuclear weapons' striking power against China and urges arming Taiwan. LL, 17
1953 Nov 6 NSC 166/1 establishes U.S. China policy on covert and overt weakening of Sino-Soviet alliance. Taiwan Nationalist forces are U.S. strategic reserve in Far East. All-out nuclear attack on China would deplete U.S. atomic stockpile considerably. LL, 18
1953 Nov 6 NSC 146/2 establishes U.S. Taiwan policy on raids against mainland China and sea traffic through Taiwan Strait. LL, 24
1953 Nov 17 Nehru says conference set. NY
1953 Nov 26 China withdraws troops from Tibet due to food shortage. NY
1953 Dec 2 Dalai Lama refuses to fly Communist Chinese flag over Potala and demands occupation forces withdraw. Anti-Communist People's party appears publicly. Up to a third of PLA troops to leave due to food shortage. NY
1953 Dec 20 China further partitions Tibet, as a five-county 'autonomous region' is annexed by Qinghai province. NY
1953 Dec 26 Nixon confers with Chiang on military preparations against mainland China. NY

1954
1954 Dalai Lama publishes A Meditation on Compassion in Tibetan in Lhasa. D2, 156
1954 Jan 1 Peking radio describes Sino-Indian talks. NY
1954 Jan 12 Sec. of State Dulles announces U.S. policy of massive retaliation, i.e. nuclear attack on U.S.S.R. or China, including local tactical strikes. CQ1, 101
1954 Mar PLA reports killing 90,000 rebels in Sinkiang. FW, 172
1954 Apr 11 Peking gives Panchen Lama a British automobile. NY
1954 Apr 22 Nehru calls for halt to all atomic testing. HE, 597
1954 Apr 29 Full text of India-China agreement on trade between Tibet and India. DW, 393
1954 Apr 30 India signs eight-year non-aggression pact with China and says Tibet is part of China. India returns all property in Tibet to China and withdraws troops from Yatung and Gyantse. Agreement regulates trade and pilgrim border crossing issues. NY
1954 May 1 India surrenders post and telegraph facilities to China as 'friendly gesture'. NY
1954 May 4 Nehru describes pact with China. NY
1954 May 11 Dalai Lama leaves Lhasa for China. TK, 15
1954 May 17 Indian Parliament debates Tibet issue and voices disagreement with Nehru on ancient Tibetan autonomy. NY
1954 May 26 Asia's largest airfield near completion under at Jyekundo near Tibet-China border. PLA conducts building program in Lhasa. NY
1954 Jun 6 Sino-Indian pact ratified. Tibet to be known by India as 'Tibet region of China' - India sends officials to Tibet to close offices. NY
1954 Jun 27 Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama to visit Peking. Nehru and Chou En-lai praise pact as model for international relations. NY
1954 Jun 28 Text of pact in NYT. Chou praises Nehru concept of 'peaceful coexistence'. NY
1954 Jun 29 Joint statement on conference at New Delhi. NY
1954 Jul 11 Dalai Lama departs Lhasa for Peking to attend the first Chinese People's National Assembly. JA, 209
1954 Jul 13 Tibetan leaders oppose Dalai Lama visit to Peking. NY
1954 Jul 23 China downs a British aircraft over the South China Sea. CQ1, 103
1954 Jul 26 U.S. downs two Chinese aircraft in the same area. CQ1, 103
1954 Aug 11 U.S.S.R. charges Himalayan climbers with spying. NY
1954 Aug 11 Chou urges 'liberation' of Taiwan. CQ1, 104
1954 Aug 17 Eisenhower says U.S. 7th fleet will bar Chinese attacks on Taiwan. CQ1, 104
1954 Aug 18 NSC 5429 discussion of U.S. Far East policy: Sec. of State Dulles says if U.S. policy in 1953 had been to use force to prevent further Communist control in Asia, then the U.S. would have been obliged to go to war to prevent the Chinese takeover of Tibet. 1952-54 FR, XII, 749
1954 Aug 20 Kanting Rebellion breaks out in southern Kham. MP, 57
1954 Aug 24 Taiwan says 40,000 in Tibetan uprising against PLA troops some months earlier. NY
1954 Sep 3 China begins shelling Nationalist-held Quemoy island and Nationalists return fire. CQ1, 104
1954 Sep 4 U.S. intelligence reports China unlikely to go to war with the U.S. over attacks. LL, 30
1954 Sep 4 Dulles orders 7th fleet into Taiwan strait. CQ1, 104
1954 Sep 5 Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama in Peking. NY
1954 Sep 7 Nationalists begin large-scale air attacks on Chinese mainland. CQ1, 104
1954 Sep 8 SEATO formed as a mutual defense treaty among U.S., Australia, Britain, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand. CQ1, 104
1954 Sep 12 Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama are received by Mao. NY
1954 Sep 19 Tibetan armed revolt against occupation troops. NY
1954 Sep 21 Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama meeting with Chou and Gen. Chu Teh featured. NY
1954 Sep 22 Senthi and Khampa leaders captured and tried in Lhasa. NY
1954 Sep 29 Khrushchev begins first trip to China, through October 12th. LL,26
1954 Oct 8 3,000 Tibetans in Kalimpong, India, ask Nehru aid in return of Dalai Lama from Peking. NY
1954 Oct 10 India to guard Kashmir-India border. NY
1954 Oct 20 Nehru meets Dalai Lama in Peking. NY
1954 Oct 21 Tibetan revolt in northeast Tibet successful. China forced to withdraw and grant autonomy. NY
1954 Nov Eisenhower approves plan for aerial surveillance plane capable of flying over U.S.S.R. and China. GY, 18
1954 Nov China reports that 20,000 Tibetans are working on the Sikang-Tibet highway. MG, 204
1954 Nov 1 China begins bombing Dachen islands. LL, 31
1954 Dec 2 U.S.-Taiwan mutual defense treaty signed at Washington. CQ1, 104
1954 Dec 10 Nationalists formally agree not to attack mainland China without consulting the U.S. CQ1, 104
1954 Dec 22 U.S. policy towards the Far East contained in NSC document 5429/5, includes U.S. destabilization of Sino-Soviet alliance. FR
1954 Dec 26 Panchen Lama made vice chair of Chinese Political Consultative Conference at Peking. NY

1955
1955 CIA China branch head William Broe appoints John Reagan as CIA officer for Tibetan affairs. KC, 35
1955 Nuclear blast reported in Sinkiang. 1961 CR, 21061
1955 Jan 13 U.N. Sec. General HamMarskjold returns from trip to Peking for talks with Chou. CQ1, 105
1955 Jan 15 Mao, Chou preside over Central Secretariat meeting where China Decides to develop nuclear weapons under program "02", with Soviet aid. LL, 38
1955 Jan 17 U.S.S.R. to assist China with peaceful development of atomic energy. LL, 41
1955 Jan 20 U.S.S.R.-China accord on uranium surveys and supply. LL, 41
1955 Jan 24 Chou condemns U.S. threats to use atomic weapons in support of Nationalist 'occupation' of Taiwan. CQ1, 105
1955 Jan 29 Taiwan Resolution becomes law, authorizing U.S. President to use force to protect Taiwan. LL, 37
1955 Jan 31 U.S. Supreme Court Justice Douglas fears it is too late to save Tibet from Communists. NY
1955 Feb 10 PLA troop movements in southeast China. NY
1955 Feb 21 Sulzberger features Chinese propaganda display using the Panchen Lama and Dalai Lama. NY
1955 Feb 22 Three Czech engineers in Lhasa to aid Chinese development. NY
1955 Feb 25 Mao and other leaders at Tibetan New Year celebration in Peking. NY
1955 Mar NSC 5412/1 establishes committee for Presidential approval of major CIA covert operations, including those against Communist nations. TP, 371
1955 Mar 3 U.S.-Taiwan mutual defense treaty enters into force. LL, 32
1955 Mar 8 Sec. of State Dulles announces to China that U.S. has new 'precision' air and naval weapons, i.e. tactical atomic weapons. CQ0, 73
1955 Mar 10 Dulles tells Eisenhower that U.S. could use atomic weapons to attack mainland China in defense of Quemoy and Matsu. RP, 63
1955 Mar 11 Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama return to Tibet. NY
1955 Mar 13 Dalai Lama named chair of 51-member preparatory committee to absorb Tibet as 'autonomous region' of China. Panchen Lama is first vice chair. Gen. Chang Kuo-hua named second vice chair. NY
1955 Mar 14 41 Chinese 'construction experts' on way to Tibet. NY
1955 Mar 16 Eisenhower public statement says U.S. could use atomic weapons in Asia without causing major civilian deaths. LL, 40
1955 Apr 2 India gives control over communications facilities in Tibet to China in accord with 1954 pact. NY
1955 Apr 23 Chou says China ready to negotiate with U.S. over Taiwan crisis. CQ1, 106
1955 Apr 27 U.S.S.R. agrees to give China a nuclear reactor and cyclotron. LL, 41
1955 May 11 Dalai Lama lreturns to Lhasa from China. TK, 15
1955 Jun 15 U.S. Taiwan policy set forth in NSC 5503, where U.S. confirms recognition of Taiwan as the only government of China. FR
1955 Jun 29 Dalai Lama returns to Lhasa from China. JA, 42
1955 Jul Former Chinese 'province' of Sikang formally abolished. FW, 60
1955 Jul Harrer article in National Geographic, with first color photographs of Lhasa to appear in U.S. press. NG, CVIII, 1, 1-48
1955 Jul Eisenhower makes 'open skies' proposal at Geneva summit conference, rejected by U.S.S.R. GY, 26
1955 Aug 1 U.S. and China begin ambassadorial-level talks in Poland. CQ1, 107
1955 Aug 6 First U-2 spy plane operational, capable of flying at 70,000 feet over the U.S.S.R. and China. TP, 108
1955 Aug 16 Dalai Lama's brother Taktser Rinpoche granted U.S. asylum, interviewed in Tokyo. NY
1955 Aug 29 2,000 PLA troops reinforce Yatung at Indian border. NY
1955 Sep China establishes Sinkiang-Uighur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) north of Tibet against large popular resistance. FW, 172
1955 Oct China reports that more than 3,000 Tibetans have completed the Shigatse-Gyantse highway in 102 days. MG, 204
1955 Nov NSC 5412/2 further defines 5412 committee on covert actions, including any operations against China. TP, 371
1955 Nov 7 Times of India says Chinese troops crossed into disputed border areas. NY
1955 Dec 14 Cambodia, Laos, Nepal and Sri Lanka join U.N. UN
1955 Dec 24 Kashmir aide K. Bakula to make India-sponsored tour of Tibet. NY
1955 Dec 31 By year-end, uranium deposits discovered in Xinjiang at Daladi, Mengqiku'er, and Kashi by Chinese teams. LL, 78

1956
1956 Jan 11 Life magazine article says U.S. threats to use tactical atomic attacks on China helped end Korean War and saved Formosa (Taiwan). CQ1, 108
1956 Feb Chinese arrest three Mimang (People's Party) leaders after Monlam festival. People of Lithang launch surprise attack on local Chinese garrison and retreat to Lithang Monastery. Chinese siege lasts 64 days and includes air bombardment killing 800 monks. MG, 255, 261
1956 Feb 15 Tibetan bands reportedly raid Nepal's northwest border. Nepal to seek treaty with Communist China. NY
1956 Apr Chinese Foreign Minister Marshal Chen Yi and delegation arrive in Lhasa from Peking for inAuguration of PCART. D3, 106
1956 Apr 15 Chinese preparatory committee for autonomous region of Tibet (PCART) near formal proclamation. NY
1956 Apr 22 Chinese puppet-government (PCART) opens in Lhasa. JA, 43
1956 Apr 23 Peking says PCART takes office in Lhasa and exercises local control. Dalai Lama optimistic of committee success to adopt regulations and appoint officials. Peking to increase economic aid. NY
1956 Apr 28 Dalai Lama and Cabinet to meet Chinese in Lhasa to discuss Chou's pledge to withdraw PLA troops and press discussion of easing of occupation. NY
1956 May 5 Nepali reports say thousands revolt in Kham region of Eastern Tibet. NY
1956 May 6 Chinese in Lhasa arrest Tibetan representatives from all over Tibet who met to demand that Chinese leave. Public gatherings banned after anti-Chinese posters up in Lhasa. Tibetans destroy PLA garrison of 600 troops but Chinese in Nepal deny it. NY
1956 May 8 Nepal says revolt by Golok tribes suffering repression under Chinese. Peking has no comment. NY
1956 May 10 Kalimpong, India, reports say rebels caused 2500 PLA casualties in Eastern Tibet and PLA bombed rebel bases. NY
1956 May 13 Rebels form five-man council with Dalai Lama as head of Free Tibet. NY
1956 May 18 China bombing Eastern Tibet and moving in more troops. Indian press discounts reports of uprisings and massacres. NY
1956 May 20 Dalai Lama asks people not to rebel. China patrols Eastern Tibet airspace. NY
1956 May 22 Vice Premier Chen Yi, Panchen Lama and Dalai Lama at April 17th inauguration of PCART. NY
1956 Jun 1 China bombs huge Lithang monastery while filled with pilgrims and monks. D2, 156
1956 Jun 21 Dalai Lama's brother and others protest to Nehru that no Asian country has condemned savage bombing of Lithang monastery where 4,000 Tibetans died. NY
1956 Jun 30 India press now says heavy PLA losses in rebellions in Eastern Tibet, China asks Dalai Lama to intervene. NY
1956 Jul PCART sends Karmapa Rinpoche and Ngabo to Chamdo to urge rebels to end uprising, with no success. MG, 257
1956 Jul U.S. U-2's begin overflying the U.S.S.R. and U.S. learns U.S.S.R. has no massive long-range bomber program. RP, 67
1956 Jul 1 Embassies in New Delhi hesitate to act on Kalimpong reports of rebellion. NY
1956 Jul 18 Kalimpong reports say PLA tanks in Lhasa. China asks monks to quell uprisings but are refused. NY
1956 Aug 1 Rebels kill Communist delegation as talks fail. NY
1956 Aug 8 Peking radio denies rebellion. Liu Ke-ping later concedes uprising in Kantse area. China permits Ragasha Shape to visit India to assuage Indian fears on Tibet security. NY
1956 Aug 15 Chinese in Nepal to make new treaty on Tibet. NY
1956 Aug 17 U.S.S.R. agrees to assist China's nuclear industries. LL, 41
1956 Aug 18 China and Nepal begin talks on trade and friendship treaty. NY
1956 Aug 21 China asks India to make Bara Hoti a neutral territory on border, but Nehru says it is in Indian territory. NY
1956 Aug 22 China downs U.S. military aircraft off Chinese coast. CQ1, 110
1956 Sep CIA officer John Hoskins posted to Calcutta consulate. Fellow officer Mary Hoskins there. KC, 29
1956 Sep 6 Nepalese traders assert China has returned Kham to local control after 'monks revolt', say China undertaking intensive propaganda campaign. NY
1956 Sep 8 Chinese intrusion into India at Shipki La. FW, 90
1956 Sep 11 Nepalese premier Acharya suggests postponement of China visit due to delay in talks on Tibet. NY
1956 Sep 13 China-Nepal talks main aim is Nepali recognition of Chinese sovereignty in Tibet. NY
1956 Sep 20 General Chang Kuo-hua tries to deflect reports of Chinese atrocities by delaying 'reforms'. MG, 257
1956 Sep 21 Chang Kuo-hua claims China now adopting go-slow approach to 'reforms' in Tibet. Nepal signs pact with China recognizing Tibet as Chinese territory, abrogating Treaty of 1856. NY
1956 Sep 25 Major Nepali concessions to Communists in pact. NY
1956 Oct 1 Nehru wires Peking to persuade China to 'allow' Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama to attend 2,500th anniversary of Buddha's birth in India. JA, 45
1956 Oct 23 International Atomic Energy Agency established by the United Nations. HE, 647
1956 Nov CIA China branch head William Broe orders Hoskins via Reagan to contact Tibetans in Darjeeling KC, 35
1956 Nov 1 China 'permits' Dalai Lama to accept invitation to go to India. JA, 45
1956 Nov 6 Eisenhower re-elected, having opposed an international ban on H-bomb testing during the campaign. HE, 600
1956 Nov 12 Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama visit India. NY
1956 Nov 14 First U.N. peacekeeping troops ever arrive at Suez to supervise troop withdrawals. HE, 648
1956 Nov 16 More fighting with PLA. NY
1956 Nov 27 Roles of Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama in present Government and relations with China described. NY
1956 Nov 28 Chinese colonization by massive population transfer, an estimated 5 million Chinese to be sent to Tibet by 1962. NY
1956 Dec Gompo Tashi (see his: Four Rivers, Six Ranges) begins organizing Tibetan rebel movement. MG, 261
1956 Dec 16 Nehru arrives in U.S. for talks with Eisenhower. CQ, 261
1956 Dec 18 Japan joins U.N. UN
1956 Dec U.S.S.R. agrees to independent Chinese uranium surveys. LL, 41
1956 Dec 20 Nepal press says Tibet monks say PLA bombing of Tibetan village causes 83 casualties. NY
1956 Dec 28 PRC ratifies the Geneva Conventions with reservations, including Article 49 provision: "The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies." Declaration text

1957
1957 U-2 bases in West Germany, Japan, Turkey, Norway and Pakistan allow U.S. to overfly the U.S.S.R., China and Tibet. GY, 26-27, 30, 142
1957 Jan 13 Tibetan relations with China described. NY
1957 Jan 20 Chou says U.S. urged Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama not to return to Tibet, says Tibet uprisings would be treated the same as Hungarian unrest by Peking. NY
1957 Feb China selects Lanchow site bordering Tibet for uranium enrichment plant. LL, 115
1957 Feb 6 China sent 50,000 settlers to Tibet for 'reclamation of wastelands'. NY
1957 Feb 27 Mao Declares Tibetan democratic 'reforms' will be postponed for at least five years. MG, 258
1957 Apr CIA smuggling Tibetan guerrillas to Guam via India and Thailand for training and air-drop back into Tibet with light arms. PLA counter-attacking with over 150,000 soldiers. JA, 47
1957 Apr 1 Dalai Lama returns to Lhasa from India. JA, 47
1957 May 2 Taiwan says Dalai Lama under house arrest near Lhasa. NY
1957 May 7 U.S. to station first atomic weapons in Far East, to place Matador missiles on Taiwan. NY
1957 Jun 18 Peking radio announces tentative plan to withdraw unspecified number of 'cadres' from Tibet, move seen as tactical maneuver. NY
1957 Jun 20 U.S. National Security Council discusses Tibet. JP, 163
1957 Jun 28 Secretary of State Dulles makes major TV address to nation on U.S. China policy, says China 'took Tibet by force'. 1955-57 FR, III, 558
1957 Jul Regular rebel meetings begin at Gompo Tashi's house in Lhasa, group named Chushi Gangdrug (Four Rivers, Six Ranges). MG, 263
1957 Jul 4 Huge ceremony at Norbulingka dedicating golden throne as ritual offering to Dalai Lama as Precious Protector. MG, 262
1957 Aug 1 PLA Gen. Tan Kuan-sen says U.S. engaged in subversive activities with Tibetan refugees. MG, 260
1957 Aug 26 U.S.S.R. successfully tests ICBM capable of reaching the U.S. CQ1, 113
1957 Sep 17 Malaysia joins U.N. UN
1957 Oct PLA troops enter India near Tibet-Burma-India trijunction. FW, 94
1957 Oct 4 U.S.S.R. launches world's first satellite, Sputnik. CQ1, 114
1957 Oct 12 Tibetan press claims China has pulled out 90% of officials and will delay plan to make Tibet a Communist province. NY
1957 Oct 15 U.S.S.R. agrees to give China prototype nuclear weapon and missiles, plus technical data. First nuclear processing plants ordered constructed. LL, 41
1957 Oct 15 Khrushchev denounces agreement with China to provide means to manufacture nuclear weapons.
1957 Dec 1 Peking radio says Chinese in Tibet, not Tibetans, target of latest re-education campaign. NY
1957 Dec 31 Top secret State Dept. review of U.S. China policy discusses Tibet as a country on par with Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam, possibly to be admitted to the U.N. U.S. May negotiate with China to foster split with U.S.S.R. 1955-57 FR, III, 669

1958
1958 Gompo Tashi learns from rebels meeting with Dalai Lama's chamberlain Phala that Kashag could not support overt resistance and Dalai Lama opposed to violent opposition. CIA tells him no U.S. support unless Tibetan Government asks. MG, 268
1958 Jan 8 Li Jue, once deputy commander and chief of staff of Tibet Military Region, assigned to top-secret Nuclear Weapons Bureau as design group leader. LL, 140
1958 Mar 19 China approves funds for rebuilding bombed monasteries. Security and control tightened with visit of party central committee delegation. NY
1958 Apr 9 Nehru accepts China invitation to visit Tibet. NY
1958 Apr 12 PLA troops complain of Tibet duty. NY
1958 Apr 23 Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama at Lhasa ceremony urge China to speed establishment of regional autonomy, appeal to Mao. NY
1958 May Foreign Minister Chen Yi says China does not own atomic weapons but would in the future. 1961 CR, 21061
1958 May 31 Deng Xiaoping approves Lanzhou uranium enrichment siting. Plant leaders have ties to his Army unit. LL, 116
1958 Jun Chushi Gangdrug base at Drigu Thang in Lhoka has over 5,000 fighters.