THE Living Buddha Jaltsolin, reader to the Dalai Lama, has described in an interview with Hsinhua News Agency how he himself took the first letter from General Tan Kuan-san, acting representative of the Central People's Government in Tibet, to the Dalai Lama following the outbreak in Lhasa of the armed rebellion of the reactionary clique of the upper social strata on March 10.

The Living Buddha Jaltsolin is also Vice-Chairman　of the Tibet Branch of the Chinese Buddhist Association. He took General Tan's letter to the Dalai Lama in the　Norbu Lingka on March 10, was detained there, and only　regained his freedom when the armed rebels had been　cleaned out by the People's Liberation Army. He said　he had been given the letter on the afternoon of March　10 in the office of the United Front Department of the　Working Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in　Tibet by Li Cho-min, a section head of the Department. He was then taken in a motor car to his home where he　got a horse to ride on to the Norbu Lingka. He found　that armed rebels were everywhere along the roads from　west of the Potala Palace to the Norbu Lingka which itself　was tightly surrounded. He related that the gate of the　Norbu Lingka was closed and guarded by the First Regiment of the Tibetan Army. He had to wait one and a　half hours, from half past three to five o'clock, before　he received permission to enter. Inside, too, he said, were　many armed rebels. He delivered the letter to the Dalai　Lama in a court room called Tata Pochang. Describing　the scene, he said: "I met the Dalai Lama in a room to　the left of the court room. The Dalai Lama looked very　worried, sitting on a chair with his head in his hands. I reported to him on my visit to the Military Area Command and told him that Political Commissar Tan Kuansan had written him a letter. After reading it, he said to　me in deep grief, 'They (meaning the rebels) say that it　is for my safety, but in fact they are endangering me. He told me he had heard that Kanchung Soanamchiatso was killed and asked me whether I knew what the reason was. He also enquired whether I had the courage to go again to the Military Area Command and asked me to tell the Military Area Command of his situation and of what I saw both inside and outside the Norbu Lingka."

The Living Buddha Jaltsolin said that his intention　was to leave the Norbu Lingka at six o'clock the same　afternoon as he had been asked by the Dalai Lama to　inform the Military Area Command of the situation. But　after he took leave of the Dalai Lama, the rebels would　not allow him to leave the Norbu Lingka. Rebel troops　were posted everywhere. All he could do was to send　his eighteen-year-old servant Tenba, who was with him, to the Preparatory Committee for the Autonomous Region to return the theatre ticket, which the Military Area Command had given him, indicating that he was now unable to leave the Norbu Lingka. He said that his servant　hid the ticket in his hat and it escaped the close search　of his person by the rebels when he left the gate.

The Living Buddha Jaltsolin continued: "The next　day (March 11) I woke up very early intending to go out　to turn the sutra wheel, but I was prevented by rebel　bandits. I asked to go to the Dalai Lama's rooms, but　rebel bandits forbade me to go. I said I wished to visit　some relatives and friends, again I was refused." He said　that it was not until March 12 that he was able to see the　Dalai Lama again. He continued: "I saw the Dalai Lama　seated on a high throne, his head lowered, one hand on　his forehead, still very worried, his face had become　darker.

"There were more than twenty people around the　Dalai Lama, including Pala Thubtenwenten, Rongnamse　Thubtan-Norzong, and Thubten Tenthar (all of them　traitors). Some of them, seeing the Dalai Lama in such　sorrow and poor health, feared that he might die. Someone suggested consulting with the rebels. They said that　at all costs the Dalai Lama must live and that everyone　should obey the Dalai Lama. A lama called Yiehsi Dongchu said immediately that it was right for the Dalai Lama　to live, but not exactly right to obey him. Another lama　wearing a yellow robe and carrying a pistol, said: 'This　time we want to use the blood and flesh of our bodies.'　A lot of other people also started clamouring. The Dalai　Lama, very worried, waved his hand and said, 'Enough! Enough!' and they stopped arguing."

Since that moment, the Living Buddha Jaltsolin said, he was never again able to talk with the Dalai Lama or to　see him. After March 10, the Dalai Lama, too, could not　move freely even inside the Norbu Lingka. Armed rebels　were on guard around his palace (Tata Pochang). Within　the yellow walls were the First Regiment of the Tibetan　Army; outside were the Kamba people and other rebels, and also the nobility. He said that even the door of the　Dalai Lama's palace was closed. When he went to see　the Dalai Lama, he was stopped and cross-examined by　Kundelin Chasa (the commander-in-chief of the rebel　army).

THE Living Buddha Jaltsolin declared that during his several days' stay in the Norbu Lingka, he was threatened incessantly. "On the fourth day of the second month according to the Tibetan calendar (March 13, 1959),the First Regiment sent a Tibetan soldier to tell me not to go out anywhere. Three days after (March 16), another came to call me. I thought it was the Dalai Lama who wanted me and quickly put on my clothes. Then I was told just before we left, that it was the commander-inchief of the rebel army, Kundelin Chasa, who sent for　me. When I went to him, I saw several people including　Tsirkuba, Shageba (all rebels) and others, also there. Kundelin said, You are friendly with the Hans and work　in the Buddhist Association (the Tibet Branch of the　Chinese Buddhist Association). We are all suspicious of　you. From now on you must break off your relations　with them.'"

The Living Buddha Jaltsolin described how on the　tenth of the second month according to the Tibetan calendar (March 19, 1959), two days after the Dalai Lama　was abducted, three rebels came to his quarters and told　him to get on his way, saying that the Dalai Lama had　already gone and that he should be going too. The rebels ceased to press him only after he gave the excuse that the　Dalai Lama wanted him to stay on.

The Living Buddha Jaltsolin said that he was profoundly grieved at the fact that the Dalai Lama had been　abducted by the rebels. He expressed deep gratitude for　the concern shown by the Central People's Government　and its attitude towards the Dalai Lama. He expressed　heartfelt support for Panchen Erdeni as Acting Chairman　of the Preparatory Committee for the Autonomous Region　of Tibet while the Dalai Lama was under duress, resolute　support for the Order of the State Council, and trust in　the policy of the Central People's Government. He declared that he would act according, to the directives of　the Central People's Government.

(This article appears on page 10, No. 15, 1959)