LADAKH (KASHMIR) - TIBET TRADE/PROPOSED ORGANIZATION OF 1950 LOBCHAG MISSION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000200130008-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2001
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: November 7, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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_ CLASSIFICATION
CC FID NTIAL/SECURITY -_--
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT co NO.
COUNTRY . India/Tibet
25X1C SUBJECT Ladakh (Kashmir) - Tibet Trade
of 1950 Lobchag Mission
DATE DISTR.. lov 52
Proposed Organization NO OF PAGES 4
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW).
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
TNIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INTONYATION AIIECTINL THE NATIONAL 0[1[X3[
01 THE UNITED STAIt fr WITHIN THE M[ANIM601 TITLE I9. SECTIONS 793
AND 794, OF THE U.I. CODE. AS AMENDED. ITS TNRM LYISNION OE 1[Y[
CATION O1 ITS COMTIMTI TO ON I[C[11T MT AN VNAU TNOLI ELO 1l NMAN IS
NNDHILITEO LT LAY. THE NENN000 CTION ON TMIL 10 NY II 1IOHI IITIO.
"fine frontier district of Ladakh; the most mountainous north-eastern area of the
Kashmir State, is in unique Juxtaposition between India on one side and Central
Asia and Tibet on the other. The foreign trade of Ladakh is with Sinkiang and
Tibetj the life of Ladakhis depends a great deal on this unique carrying trade
even though traders engagedln this trade are from either Hoshiarpur or Sinkiang.
For Ladakhis carry on independent trade only with Tibet across Kasbmir's border
with the Changthang areas of northwest Tibet.
recently LI946 J. Some of the most precious items of Sinkiang's foreign trade
came to Ladakh on their way to India and other countries of the world. Carpets
and nemdas, gold and silver mots and silk yarns found their way out of Sinkiang
to wo-or markets through Ladakh, one of the oldest land routes out of Central Asia
over the Karakorum passes. Chakmen and Sham (superior and coarse khaddar) and
cups and bangles of jade from Sinkiang constituted Ladakh's items of exports to
Tibet. The recent political change in Sinkiang has brought this important trade
to a dead end except for its stray flow by Tarkandi refugees. Andmost of the
Hoshiarpuri traders have either already left for their homes or are sitting idle
In Leh in lack of business, Charas, which was once the chief and most valuable
item of this trade, slackened long ago with the spread of Russian influence in
Eastern Turkistan and stopped completely after World War II.
D?Ladakh's trade relation with Tibet is as important and old as her cultural and
political connection.. The aggregate volume and value of Ladakh's trade with Tibet
has been flourishingly enormous heretofore in spite of the non-availability of
regular statistics in this connection. For in the Tibetan countries even Lamas
and lamaseries engage themselves in trade. The Lobehag Mission, Lhasa Zhungthsog
and private traders from Ladakh and Tibet have always profitably cartied on this
transaction for their countries. The following figures reveal how profitable
2. 9?Ladakh's trade with the Central Asia was a most flourishing intercourse till
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4.
5?
this intercourse has been both for matters of trade and goodwill between Kashmir
and Tibet. After 1946, only the present year has the bearings of normality
respectin administration in Ladakh. Years 1947-4+9 were a disturbed period owing
t the Bat:' raid in these areas. Hence the non-availability of trade statistics
for the period, The raid however brought in a new set of traders in the field
from Irndis. Lahu11s,`rho came here as transporting agents for the Indian Army
which came to the rescue of this country, have now settled here as permanent
traders and seem to be taking the place of the Hoshiarpuris.
"'Kashmir'-s chief `items of export to Tibet, as revealed from the following figures,
are apricots, saffron, shawls and a few Yarkandi commodities. Tibet's require-
ment of ap?iQots is about 2,000 maunds annually, which Kashmir can conveniently
afford to send to Tibet. For La=s own production of apricots, from occupied
Kargil (exclusive of Skardo tehsil) is about 2,500 .maunds annually, As regards
saffron and shawls, Kashmir can supply as much as needed by Tibet. The present
setback in Ladakh's trade with Sinkiang does not substantially disturb Kashmir's
trade with Tibet. For lot of fine khaddar goes to Tibet from Garhval and Kumun
districts of northern India; and the people of Changthang (across the Kashmir
border) whose main wearing apparel are from their indigenous wool, do not need
it from Ladakh. And people of Central Tibet no more like the Yarkandi cups
and bangles of jade as the stone used for these items these days is no longer
of hard and superior quality. Kashmir can sell large size carpets and goods to
Tibet,, hieh bought these previously from-Yarkandvia Ladakh.
"Principal goods that Ladakh imports from Tibet, as revealed fromthe following
figures, consist of China brick-tea, wool,,, ahmina.and lai bskins,, etc. There
is a marked'fall in tea tmpo'ts due to its non-su;F y from China. Ladakh;s own
supply , of wool from the KargTam,:'Pangong and Rupshu areas is only 1'.000 maunds
annually,, not enough even for local needs. This item of Ladakhts imports from
Tibet is very important for Kashmir*s famous Wool Industry. The Kazan Wool Mills
Ltd., Srinagar, alone buys more than,3,000 maunds?from Ladakh annually in normal
timesb} Kashmir also needs quite a large quantity of the Tibetan lambskins and
other furs, for its Fur Industry. The import of Tibetan X a.bans (superior carpets)
is meant for-use,in the private houses and lamaseries in La Besides, this
is also meant for re-export to Lahul and Zanskar,
"The Lobehag Mission which the Kashmir Government has-been sending to Tibet from
the old days, every 3rd year, for exchanging letters and presents of goodwill
with the government in Lhasa is due this year (1950). The reciprocal Tibetan
Mission Lhasa Zhungthsang - has already visited Ladakh,, The Lobchag Mission
1950 should be availed of for getting for the government of Kashmir the following
data, other than the exchange of goodwill messages, so essential under present
political trends in the Central Asian countries across the borders of the Kashmir
States
a. Information bearing on the strategic aspects of;tii .'Ladakh-Tibet (Changthang
border. in view of the recent political change in.-Ch$ne:se' Turkestan;, informa-
tion on he repercussions of 'the New 'China' pn 'Tibet)Zand information on
.present political trends in Tibet
Report. on deliberations by the proposed Lobchag Mission ' with' the government
of Tibet, if'the government of Kashmir so desires, on the conduct of such
missions between Ladakh and Tibet. in future.
To "The following personnel for: the Lobchag-1950 is suggested, for the' consideration
of the government t
Mono Thsetan Phuntsog - Leader
Professor R. N. Rakiul - Adviser--)
Khwaja Abdul Haque - Trader
Nono Kalon Rigzin Namgyal - Trader
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Servants
Cook
Bearers
Thc,du ation:of the.:proposed. mission is planned to be six months. The mission
if approved by the government should leave Leh in.. the first week of October 1950
at the latest so as to c.oincide with theLasar - the Tibetan New Year - when
people"from different corners of Tibet congregate in Lhasa for the annual festival
and:'dar., of the'..?Dalai'Lamai---the temporal and spiritual head: of Tibet.
8. 9?Previous.. practice.: concerning the Lobchag :1iiss.ion used to be the granting of a
;loan , of Rs e . l0,'000/:s . to a local trader who undertook to be an - emis nary for the
letters and. presents of the Government of Kashmir. to the Government of Tibet-
:While in Tibet.;this trader-concerned himself only with private trade transaction;
he was not :permitted to have any discussion whatsoever with the Tibetan government
for and' on behalf of..Kashmir government. This year. It is essential,. under the
political situation.~along.the northern borders of Kashmir, that.the Mission
lobehag is sent to Tibet on government level... Hence the need for change in the
original nature and.composition-of the Lobchag Mission for the year 1950. The
two traders for'. this year, however,. should.. jointly.. meet (as in the past) the
expenses of the Mission. But they should no more be bearers of the letters and
presents. of the Kashmir Government to. the Government of. Tibet. This latter task
should be assigned., this year as well as in future, to the leader of the mission.
The non-government member in the capacity of adviser.-to-the Mission should be
remunerated. forhis services to- the.gov+eriment. An honourarium of Rs..1,200/^
is suggested, inclusive of. all other-.privileges . enjoyed by members of such .missions:
LADAKE (K MIx) TIBET TRADE
1946 - EXPORTS
S. No. Items of wort
quantity
and Agencies
,,Apricots
1 Lobehak Mission ' 100 mds..
2..Lhasa Zhungthsong - - .200 .. "
31 Local Traders , 200
II. Saffron Kashmir:
1. Lobohak Mission 400 tolas
2. Lhasa Zhungthsong)
III. Shawls/Kashmirt
.lv Lobchak. -Mission )~ 20 pieces
2. Lhasa Zhungthsong.
Mi.Ro. t? (Yarkandi.. Capps
n banga.es of jade,
khaddars, carpets
and. Namdai, etc.)
Rs, 40 per.. md. Rs.. 4., 0O0/_
Rs. 8,000/
" ". Rs. 8,000/.
Rs. 2/8 : per Re. 1,000/a
... tola -
Rs. 100/uyer " Rs. 2,000/2
piece..
Ro*12,.88O/W
Grand Totals Rs.35,880/?
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-4-
19+6 - IMPORTS
Items of Import Amount
S. No. and Agencies Quantity Rate
T .. Brick Tea:
1. Lobchak Mission ) 6/- per Rs. 38,00/=
2. Lhasa-Zhungthsong). 100 boxes- Rs.
brick
TI.: Wool:
1. Lobchak Mission ) 8,000=/-
2.. Lhasa Zhungthsong) 80 mds.: Rs.100/= per ma. Rs.
Local Traders ) 4920 mds. Rs.4,92,000/.
3-
III. Pushmina:
Local Traders 2,000mds. Rs..120/=per md. Rs.2,40,000/:
IV.. Tosa Pushmina:
Local Traders 2 mds.. Rs.200/_per seer Rs. 16,000/:
V. Tibetan Khabdans :
1. Lobchak Mission ) 20 pieces Rs. 100 per Rs. 2,000/=
2. Lhasa Zhungthsong) piece
Vi. Misc:
.a) China Silk) All 10 pieces Rs. 30/= per yd. Rs. 12,000/=
'b) Musk ) three Rs. 600/-
c) Lamb ) Agencies Rs. 1,000/=
Grand Total: Rs. 8,10,000/- -
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