The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1885-11-19
The Troubles in Burmah.

For manv months the relations be.
tween the court of Mandalay and the
| Indian government have been troubled,
says The London Telegraph. Not only
has the rule of King Theebaw been
s%anguinary and oppressive, even for q
golden-footed %potentate, and a con-
slant source of disquietude, but his
capricious conduct has seriously in
terfered with the upper and lower
waters of Irrawaddy. Recently q
fresh and acute cause of annoyance
has been furnished by the action of the
French consul, a foreseen consequence
of the extension of French influence in
Indo-China. The French, indeed, aim
at establishing political control over
the entire region from b sea to the
Burmese frontier, including the reduc.
ton of Siam to 4 dependent state.
One object of King Theebaw has been
to secure the transport of arms n
ammunition through TOnGuin, but, so
far, he has not been able to obtain
more than vague promises. The actual
crisis in Burmah appears to have risen
out of the intrigues of the French con-
sui. He is reported to have obtained
concessions for the making of rail-
ways, offering large interest, and pro-
posing to take as security the customs.
A bank also has been suggested which
is to manage the tea trade and work
the ruby mines. Finally, he is report
ed to have offered q large sum provi-
ded the king would cancel the leases
of the Bombay and Burmah trading
corporation and transfer them to a
French company. The latter state
ment seems to explain the recent de-
cree against the corporation, imposing
on them q fine of 9230, 900. Now they
have an immense body of servants and
hundreds of elephants employed in the
forest cutting and carrying timber.
They have refused to pay the fine and
have appealed to the Indian govern
iment. 1t seems that the viceroy sag
igested a settlement OF the dispute by
means of arbitration, although under
the treaty he might have called for
the trial of the case before a mixed
court. King Theebaw, trusting, no
doubt, to his French. supporters, has
refused arbitration, and has declared
in insulting arrogant terms that he
will not accept Lord Dufferin's pro-
posal, and will not reopen the ques- -
ton at all, but at once enforce his ar
bitrary decree. The consequence, OF
course, to the Bombay-Burmah COR.
poration will be very serious, and,
coupling the kings tyranical conduct
with French proceedings, it will be
seen that the Indian government can
mot tolerate either. During the whole
of his cruel reign the subjects of Thee.
'baw have been continually migrating
into British Burmah, where thew find
protection and employment. To such
an extent has this movement gone on
that while the population under our
control has largely increased, that re
naming in Upper Burmah has suffered
q corresponding diminuition. Had the
Burmese ruler behaved with ordinary
decency, and had not French interior.
ence intiamed his arrogant spirit, there
could have been no question of hostile
Now, however, that Brit
ish interests are politically threatened
by the invaders of Tonquin, British
subjects capriciously fined by the
and the Indian government
openly and rudely insulted, it is clear
that adequate reparation must be ex-
acted, and an end put to the turbu.
lence and tyranny displayed at Man.
dalay. Lord Dufferin is a prudent
ruler, and he may be trusted to do
enough, and not more than enough, to
safely guard our interests and relieve
Siam as well as Burmah from the pres.
sure of In intrusive power.