THE DIFFICULTY IN SIAM,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9804, 31 July 1893, Page 2

THE DIFFICULTY IN SIAM,

[Br Electric Telegraph.—Copybiqht.

(Pee Pbess Association.)

London, July 28.

(Received July 29, at noon.)

The China correspondent of the Standard wires that the Chinese have decided to oppose the French advance beyond the 21st degree, and will charter troops in the event of an emergency.

The Standard's Paris correspondent telegraphs tbat the French Foreign Minister has informed the British Ambassador that France has assented to a compromise in connection with the Siam difficulty.

A telegram from Bangkok states tbat the blockade began on Wednesday. Nentral ships were ordered to leave three days before the blockade began.

[The latitude of Bangkok is about 14deg. N., and the action of China above referred to will probably prove to mean that Bangkok may go for aught they care, but that the French must, not push their forces into the upper waters of the river.] July 29.

(Received July 30, at 6 p.m.)

In the House of Commons to-day Sir E. Grey stated that the Crown law officers were inquiring into the legality of the French blockade in Siam. He said there was great perplexity as to the actual dats of the blockade. The French Foreign Minister had informed the British Ambassador in Paris that it would begin on the 31st, while the British Minister in Bangkok had wired that it began on Wednesday last. Siam has accepted the French ultimatum in its entirety, and FraDco accepts the reply, leaving the provinces in Upper Mekong, which England ceded to Siam, subject to separate negotiations between France and England.