(Sven, explorer, geographer, travel writer, 1865-1952) Autograph letter signed to Sir Rennell Rodd, 15pp., 8vo, Viceregal Lodge, Simla, [India], n.d. [1906], on his problems attempting to enter Tibet, while a guest of the Viceroy Lord Minto, "Lord Kitchener was very pleased with your beautiful letter about my plans I have passed two weeks with Lord Minto as their guest, and without any comparison, the most happy and glorious time I have ever had in my life . You remember [Lord] Curzon promised me everything, as assistants, escort of Gurkhas, etc. Everything was ready when I arrived. And Lord Minto has written a long despatch about my plans and sent a telegram asking for permission for me to enter Tibet from here. The answer was a refusal. He sent a new telegram explaining the situation - a new refusal! However Lord Minto would not give up he telegraphed again showing that it was absolutely absurd not to allow me to cross the frontier . Just to-day the answer came I have a feeling of victory nobody in India is allowed to give me the slightest help. I do not get a single gurkha as escort - and must try to find some kashmiri shikaris . The worst of all is however that I will not travel under the protection of British prestige. I will have to go round the whole long way over the Kara-koram pass and cross the frontier from Chinese territory - and the Tibetans will very likely regard me as a Russian - and in the treaty of Lhasa it is said that no representative of any other nation, except British, should be allowed to do any work in Tibet the work I have done during 21 years ought to be sufficient for not treating me as a suspicious individual. The King of Sweden cannot be supposed to have any political plans on Tibet", folds.