When Sir Basil Gould attended the enthronement of Tibet’s new Dalai Llama in 1940, it was obvious history would be unfolding before his eyes.

But 85 years later, the British diplomat’s own papers are at the centre of a purported attempt to control the past.

Documents written by Sir Basil that are said to prove the independence of Tibet became engulfed in a bidding war in London this week, as followers of the Dalai Llama sought to keep them out of Chinese hands.