W. H. King , M.B.E.
The Thibet plateau, ' the roof of the world', ', lived up to its name as a forbidden land for many years. A change came about in 1920 when the ruler, the Dalai Lama , allowed explorers to try to climb Mount Everest. Further contact with the world was made when W. H. King , who is giving this talk, was entrusted in 1922 with building a telegraph line to Lhasa, a distance of 145 miles. As he will explain, the line was finished very quickly, despite many difficulties that had to be overcome. After working in July and August, 1922, the construction party had made it possible for the Hon. Mrs. Bailey, wife of the political administrator, to greet the Dalai Lama by telephone.