The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-24
Siamese Gunboats Ready to Ram
the French Warshipa
FRANCE REJECTS ovERruRss.
The Concessions Made BY Siam Arc
Not Equ to the Demands.
1ss ErsasA Aaaassse Wiil Leave Deae-
hsh-rarisssa Newspapers Urging
eAe 0svsssnsns - Stand sy Iss
CltinasuA-Bieser Comueaeos

that no precise definition was ever given
MIN OF what his majesty is Ia understand
oy the expression, .right Of the empire of
Anam and the kingdom Of Cambodia on
the lett bank OF the Mekong river His
majesty has ever been ready TO abandon
ali territories over which the existence OF
these rights should have been proved
ana five months ago proposed to
submit all contested points to interna-
tionai arbitration. Now he consents 10
delimisation Of the frontiers between Siam
and Cambodia ~ follows: All Of the ter
ritcry on the left bank of Mekonx river
south OF alino drawn from the most north
ersy OF the Siamese military posts recently
occupied BY Eranco-Anamese troops. to
another point situated In the same iati-
tude. that II on the 18th degree
north latitude, will be regarded as
Anamite and Cambodian territory.
the river below the point indicated becom-
ing the line Of separation between neigh
boring states as far as the point where the
river enters Cambodian territory. and the
use OF the islands in the river being COM
mon to three coterminus states. The hing
deriores the losses experienced by both
sides in connection with the kengkicn aud
khAmmon incidents. n we'll n the regret
able collision at the mouth Of the Msnam
river
The Ban9bien will be liberated and
any other satisfaction demanded will. il
necessary, b given. 80 far a. compatible
with ordinary justice and the independ-
ence OF the 6iamese government which
the French government has declared its
desire to respect Four persons found
guilty of acts Of personal aggression
against French subjects will be punished
and wherever necessary compensation in
money will bo made to relatives
Of the victims. The claims made
BY French subjects on account OF
alleged indignitiss alleged 70 have been
suffered by them. owing to the actions
Of 6iamese officials, are contested
by the latter. Tho king. how
ever. agrees not 10 insist on the
question Of principle and 10 hand over to
the French government 100000 francs
| for the benefit Of those who suffered the
| above mentioned losses. The Siamese
government proposes, without. however.
making it . condition. the appointment Of
4 mixed commission to inquire into the
| question Of damages and tho amount
| OF money indemnities mentioned in
| the French demand. The Siamess
| government will Immediately deposit
| 100000 francs to cover the amount Of
indemnifcation designated above. Tho
king, however, has reason to believe that
| after proper inquiry this sum will be
| found to exceed the amount Of indem-
mites claimabie in justice by the French
| government"
The reply closes by saying that the
| Siamese government Is confident that In
| acceding to the demands Of the French
| government in this mannar il has given
| proof of . sincere desire to maintain good
| relations aud settle in the most complete
manner ali pending questions.
| Al midnight il il stated that Slams
| reply 70 Frances ultimatum Is considered
unsatisfactory, and that the French min
iater resident vii: probably leave Bangkok
| on Wednesday TO SO aboard . cruiser.
| The refusal Of the French minister Of for
| eiGn affairs to give Siam an extension OF
| time il nscribed to hts desire to force
Slams hand and prevent her negotiating
| for British support.
| Develle had . long conference with
Premier Dupuy today. Only at the last
| minute was il decided to impart to the
press slams reply and the governments
| decision. II IL stated that Deveile has no
| tilted Admiral Human to proceed 1t once
| to declare . blockade. Soir comments
| thus in an extra edition on Slams reply I:
'.Siam comedies only the least important
| Of the conditions put by France. Her
| resistance IL due obviously TO English in
tuence. NJ. Develie would do well to
| speak clearly and firmly TO Lord Dufierin. !"
The eighteenth parallel mentioned in
the Siamese reply cuts the Mekong river in
| line with khanmuon. where Capt. Luce
| il now operating with the French forces
| The French claim, in fact, Is fixed at the
| twenty third parallel ~ the northern
boundary. A. the northern frontier OF
| Cambodia Is along the fourteenth
parallel, Siam In her reply grants
only half the French demands. Paris
newspapers. led By the Temps, are CON-
ductink . vigorous campaign in favor OF
the governments full demand, and Is
| q warning to Great Britain against any in
terference in the present complication.
Dispatches from Bangkok say that the
| territorial demands OF France are regarded
there ~ vsgne. The sismese. although
| intensely excited. are displaying great
| self-control.
LoxDox. July 23.-The Bangkok CORE
| spondent Of the Daily Chronicle says
| siamess warships are anchored one mile
| from those OF the French. and are crowded
| with men ready for action. Their in,en-
| ton 10 in case tho French commence hos
| tiiities 20 steam down and ram the Freuch
cunboats. attempt to board them sn force
| and attack the crews with d xed bayonets.
| The German gunboat Wolf has arrived.
| The bangkok correspondent Of the
| 7sn.<s says: "On Saturday the French
| eunboats were fixing chain armor amid
ships. The Siamese vessels are Also pre-
| yarinr for action. All have steam up. The
| French legation Processes to believe that
the gunboass cannot cross the bar until
high tide on Wednesday. which would leave
time TO complete an amicabIe settlement.
The territory Siam offers TO sacrifice covers
extreme points Of the recently attemp pied
+! French aggression. The eession involves
the evacuation Of the siamese ports Of
| Poowatons. AE:open and Sumang.
II am credibiy informed that Russia re-
Gently sounded Siam ~ 10 whether the
latter 10 disposed TO eoncede the Inland OF
| Salang or Junk-Ceyion. near the eighth de-
| gres OF north latitude and vest Of the
Malay peninsula. for Russian naval sts-
| ton. Naval authorities consider 3aiang
| - Of great strategseal Importance"
L
Eagiish Ftnssctai Matters.
4