SIAM IN SEARCH OF AN ALLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 206, 3 September 1897, Page 2

SIAM IN SEARCH OF AN ALLY.

The little kingdom ot Siam, wedged in botweon British Burmuh and Annam, in the south-east corner of Asia, has nob hitherto cub a very prominent) fignro in the world's history. To tho average Englishman it is best known aB the country which produced the famous " Siamese Twins " and the white elephants. The titles of its monarch, " Chulalongkorn, Phra SorudoSch, Pra Djou Yoo Hoora (Supreme Lord), and Djou Cheenwihh (Lord ot Life)," do not land themselves readily to English ears. In tho great) world of London, an Oriantal monarch, bedizzened in splendid robes and diamonds, ia no more than a nine days' wonder and a passing ahow. Bub for all thab the recenb vinib of King Chulalongkorn has a political significance, und an importanb bearing on tho faburo of tho British Empire ia tha Easb, for tho issue which ib raises is fcho supremacy of English or French commerce on bho Meiuam Kiver.

The French first obtained a footing in Slam through their missionaries, juaD as the British have <iono in various partis of bha world. In 1847 the reijrninj; kir<g, by persecuting tho Roman Catholic priests, furnished Franco with an excuou for interference. A French squadron easily demolished tho Siamese fleet, if a handful of obsolete vessels can bo dignified with such a name, soizod blio citadel oi Turon, and annexed GamUodia. When Chulalongkorn succeeded bo bhe throne in 1868, ha saw thai) tho French wore casting eoveboua eyes on what was lofb of his Httlo vinaymd. But ife was nod until 1893 that Franca openly attacked Sium. Having annexed Annana, she claimed a portion of Siatnane territory which, aho allosrod, had formorJy belonged bo that couutry. Tho domand waaenfarcad by a blockade of Bangkok, and after an ineffectual show of resistaaco a third parb of Siam waa ceded and a heavy indemnity paid. By tho Convention of 1896 all bha remainder of the country except the valley of tho Meinam was partitioned between England and Franco.

The remnant of Siam became a buffer state between British Burmah and French Indo-China. Bub Franca had by far the best of the doal its securing that part of Luang Phrabang on tho right bank of tha Mekong, which ia tho commercial key of aba coun&ry. In this transaction Franca waa Bbrongly supported by Russia, the Governmenb at St. Petersburg having instructed its ambassador ab Paris, Baron do Mohrenheina, to promiso the support and co-operation of Russia "on all points of fche dispute with Siam." This fact is significant, if not ominous, in view of tho recent Franco-Russian alliance.

Siam bus boon hardly deaib by. Ib has boeti wounded in the house of its friend. From the outset of hia reign King Cliuialoßgkorn has shown tho keenest) anxiety to cultivate cordial relations with England, whoea constitutional system and institutions h& hitH adopted as far aa possible as a model. By hid enlightened and progressive policy ha han aabablinhed in hiß capital up to data railways, electric tramways, and schools and colleges where Ohe English languugo ia taught, and htm foßterod British industries and eominerco. Nine-ientiha of thefeliipping which untieni the JVlainam flies the Britiah flag. Naturally this policy ha« aroused the joalousy and hostility of France, whoso trade with the country ranks oven below bhab of (ievtnany or tho Nethorlands. Tho prospect) which now looms up in blie near future ia tho seizure by Franco on aomo specious prsitence, and with the connivance of Russia, of the small rumnanii of terribory which has escaped tho ppoiior.

To avert that Phe King ot Siam has barm seeking an ussuranco from the Britii'h Governmenb that the frontier luid down in 18S6 shall ba final. Bat whether he has obtainod a pledji'j of that kind from the Marquis of Salisbury is a secret only knows in the inner circle of the Foreign Olfiee ; and judging from appearances it) cioeH nob seem that lie haH succeerlod in hie miwsion. In fact, poor Chulalongkorn, in quoeti of a« ally, rnminda one of " Japher. in 6i-«rch of a Father," and ib would not como aa a surprise if it wore bo transpire that, disappointed in the quarter where he wan momfe justified ia looking for sympathy, ho has thrown himself into fche arms of tho Emperor of Germany, by whom, in liia daaire to Dose aa tha arbiter of nabiojis, and to Duah Geraaa commereo, such an unconaiddred toiiie as a pio6ec6orato ovor Siam would bo worth suappiag at. Bab in any evens tha extension of either French or Germaa influence ia aqafch-eaafcern Asia, within 2,000 mileo of Auabralian ohores, ia nob a mafcfear which we can afford to regard wibb indifferance.