Note:
Gunjan Singh, Can Tibet Play the Role of a Buffer State Again? OJPCR: The
Online Journal of Peace and Conflict Resolution 8.1: 25-31 (2008)
www.trinstitute.org/ojpcr/8_1singh.pdf
("From early on, the British rulers realized the importance of Tibet as a
buffer between India and any other external power on the north, be it France
, Russia or China. However, to support or even encourage a completely
independent Tibet was to damage a much larger commercial interest in China.
Thus, they sought to limit Chinese power in Tibet and encourage Tibetan
autonomy. In short, the British Government recognized what they called
Chinese 'suzerainty' but not sovereignty in Lhasa.")