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Simla. 20-11-80.

My Dear Koot Humi,

I have sent Sinnett your letter to me and he has kindly sent me yours to him. I want to make some remarks on this, not by way of cavil, but because I am so anxious that you should understand me. Very likely it is my conceit, but whether or no I have a deep rooted conviction that I could work effectually if I only saw my way, and I cannot bear the idea of your throwing me over under any misconception of my views. And yet every letter I see of yours, shows me that you do not yet realize what I think and feel.* To explain this I venture to jot down a few comments on your letter to Sinnett.

You say that if Russia does not succeed in taking Tibet, it will be due to you and herein at least you will deserve our gratitude — I do not agree to this in the sense in which you mean it. (1) If I thought that Russia would on the whole govern Tibet or India in such wise as to make the inhabitants on the whole happier than they are under the existing Gov[ernmen]ts, I would myself welcome and work for her advent. But so far as I can judge the Russian Gov[ernmen]t is a corrupt despotism, hostile to individual liberty of action and therefore to real progress. And it would only be in common with all well wishers of mankind & not as an Englishman (& indeed I have no nationality) that I should feel gratitude to you or anyone else who by legitimate means (& what are under different