FRANCE AND SIAM.

Northern Advocate, 29 July 1893, Page 4

FRANCE AND SIAM.

The French Minister left Bankok on Wednesday and the blockade was to be vigorously enforced on the next day. The G-overnment are sending reinforcements to enable the country to be occupied and also additional warships. It is expected that the forts will be destroyed and the palace shelled. The Siamese Minister is leaving Paris. Lord Dufferin had a friendly interview with M. Develle, who intimated that France would not allow any third party to interfere in her quarrel with Siam. French subjects in Bangkok have been placed under the protection of the Dutch Consul. M. Pavie, French Minister, asks for pilots to take the gun boats out of the river. They are suspected of lingering under pretence of waiting for the moonsoon in order to enable " Triumphant " and the rest of the Asiatic squadron to arrive. A second detachment of the foreign legion has been despatched to the East by the French Government. The Siamese Government have 12,000 armed men in Bangkok. It is believed that France intends to occupy Battambong and Angko. British residents in Bangkok are intensely irritated at the seeming apathy of the Imperial Government. It is understood that the Powers will not recognise the. blockade ef Bangkok until the Chamber declares war. The Siamese G-overnment has invited a fuller statement respecting the boundary claims, based on possession by the French of Annam and Cambodia. It has consented to pilots taking the French gunboats out of the river. A section of the . French press declares that Lord Dufferin has shown unmistakable signs of supporting Siam, and is meeting the French Government with insulting demands, if not absolute vilification. Admiral Humann has sailed from Saigon for Menam, he will blockade the river with eight vessels. M. Pavie, the French Minister, and three gunboats have left Bangkok. The French gunboats are furnished with 700 melinite shells. The foreign gunboats are landing parties of men in the city to prevent the lower classes pillaging. The blockading squadron includes an ironclad, one cruiser and five gunboats. The Siamese Government do not appear to realise their critical position. The Chinese Government is astonished at the French demands, since both banks of the Mekhong belong to to China, much further south than the twenty-third degree. The British residents in Bangkok are asking to have a strong diplomatic agent sent out. London merchants, by circular sent to Lord Roseberry, Foreign Secretary, protest against the injury to trade, resulting from admission of the French claims. From the comments of the Government organs there is an indication that Lord Roseberry will not seriously contest the French demands respecting Siam. The Chinese Embassy has informed M. Deville that Siam has no territory east of Mekhong so far north as the twenty-third degree. If war is declared against Siam, it is expected that the Black Flags will attack Tonquin. France will occupy the islands in the Gulf of Siam, and has already seized Bangsamlin as a base of operations. The blockade will probably extend to the whole of the northern part of the Gulf. The French cruiser Eclaireur will reinforce Admiral Humann. The Russian press exhorts France to complete her work and destroy England's prestige in Asia. The blockade of Bangkok begins on Saturday. The King of Siam has requested assistance