• Curzon was a keen student of geo-politics. He gave problem of frontiers a ‘scientific basis’ and developed British India as an ‘Empire’ claiming to be heard in its own right, often forcing the home authorities into policies, with which it was not in full agreement and considerably influencing the British policy towards the Asiatic countries.
• Tibet: At the time of Curzon’s arrival in India, the relations with Tibet had reached the point of deadlock. The Chinese suzerainty over Tibet was ineffective. Also, Russia’s influence over Tibet was increasing. Curzon, who had tried to forestall Russian influence towards North-West in Afghanistan and Persia, could not remain indifferent to the Russian advances in Tibet.
• In 1903, Curzon sent Colonel Younghusband, with a small Gorkha contingent, on a special mission to Tibet to oblige the Tibetans to come to an agreement. The Tibetans refused to negotiate and offered non-violent resistance. Younghusband reached Lhasa. Dalai Lama fled away from the capital, leaving the charge of administration in the hands of senior officials. Younghusband dictated the terms of 7^th September, 1904, which provided that Tibet would pay an indemnity of Rs 75 lakhs at the rate of one lakh per annum. As a security for the payment, the Indian Government was to occupy the Chumbi Valley (territory between Bhutan and Sikkim) for 75 years. The Tibetans were also to respect the frontiers of Sikkim. Further clauses provided that Tibet would not grant any concessions for railways, roads, telegraphs etc. to any foreign state, but give Great Britain some control over the foreign affairs of Tibet.
• North-West Frontier:

Curzon followed the policy of withdrawal of the British forces from advanced positions, employment of tribal forces in defence of tribal territory concentration of British forces in British territory behind them as a safeguard and a support and improvement of communications in the rear. Regular British troops were withdrawn from advanced position in the tribal area, like Gilgit, Khyber, Kurram and the Waziri country and the task of the defence of these advanced posts entrusted to the tribal militia (like Khyber Rifles, Kurram Militia etc) trained and commanded by British officers. As support to these tribal levies, mobile columns of British troops were stationed at strategic stations like Malakand, Dargai, Peshawar, Kohat Bannu etc., to rush for support whenever necessary. Communications in the rear were developed and a number of strategic railway lines were laid down. Besides, at a Darbar held at Peshawar in April 1902 and largely attended by the tribal chiefs, Curzon assured the chiefs of the peaceful and non-agrressive aims of British policy, but at the same time warned them of consequences of violating the frontier. Curzon created a new North-West Frontier Province, consisting of settled districts of Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and the trans-border tracts lying between the administrative frontier and Durand line.

• The Kitchener Controversy:
• In the Viceroy’s Executive Council, there used to be two members representing the Military Department – The Commander-in-Chief, who was the executive head of the army in India and Military Member (an ordinary Executive Department and adviser to the Governor-General on military affairs).
• Lord Kitchener, who came to India as Commander-in-Chief in 1902, objected to this and desired an end to this dual control of military affairs. Kitchener wanted abolition of the office of the Military Member of the Viceroy’s Executives Council and all functions regarding military administration to be entrusted to the care of the Commander-in-Chief. Curzon strongly opposed this proposal, maintaining that the proposal would subvert the military authority of the Government of India as a whole and substitute for it a military autocracy in the person of the Commander-in-Chief.
• The Government in Britain, apprehensive of a war with Russia, was not inclined to support the dual system and was more likely to support Kitchener. A compromise was stuck where the position of the Military Member was not abolished, but he was reduced to the position of the Military Supply Member, whose duties were more of a civilian than of a military nature. All purely military functions of the Department were transferred to the Commander-in-Chief. Curzon was urged to accept the compromise. However, sharp differences arose between Curzon and Kitchener over who should be appointed as the Military Supply Member. The Home Department did not support Curzon’s choice. Curzon took it as lack of confidence in him and tendered his resignation in August, 1905.