The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-26

q n 5esNeSo fs3HS& ana Sk8sss u oEf1 -
s;sry brief conflict. bat Francs before she
gels through with siam may come into
eoas;es with either China or England:
peshaps With both Of these posesx The
diagute concerning the boundary line be-
tssen AMMAN and Siam is not new aues-
sieas. II has been pending many years.
bGs when France assumed . prosecforats
OVER AMMAN il Vas able 20 enforce the
lasser's essim- OF course France should
h&se allowed the dispute 70 be settled BY
sssstrstion. for Francs il very strong and
sism very weak, but France, like Great
Britain. settles her disputes with weaker
eosntries generally by brute force.
The French ustimasum demands that
shs siamese evacrase the left bank OF the
Nsxong river. The French are already in
possession Of the lower Mekong river, and
ii slam comedies the demands now made
ursan her the river viii be made entirely
Pinch. This would give French iurisdic-
tin over the larger portion Of the Laos
ssa.es tina. are now tributary 20 Siam. In
its more norsherly course the river sepa-
rates the Shan states under British con-
srei from the Laos states II France gets
possession Of this territory her frontier
Viii border on what 10 practically British
territory.
The Kingdom of Siam is bounded on
the north By China. of which empire Siam
10 s nominal vassai. The capital, Bang
kox. is situated on the great river Menarn.
A. abou. 100 miles from its mouth the
Asaam separates into two branches, and
tcsards the delta formed By the bifurca-
tis.n OF the great river Menam two large
streams converge-the Mekong. from the
Bssmese frontier on the northwest. and
si4a Bangpakong. from the hills on the
Kkosat plateau. Both flow into the head
oil The Gulf OF Siam. All these rivers ara
cossnecisd by big canals. thus enabling the
Siamese 10 travel l,y boat TO almost any
ps4s On the east Of Siam are the French,
aisng the Mekong; On the west are the
English.
che population OF Bangkok 10 about
70 go about one-haif Of whom are Chr
nese. The Germans are establishing them
selves commercially in Bangkok; there are
bea few Americans in the country. Cath
ole. Baptist and Presbyterian missions
ara schools are located in the capital, and
tvs nswspapers--one in English and the
o.Eer in Siamese-are issued. In 1891
eisefric lights were introduced, and horse
cars are now run through the main
stsssts Of the city. Siam has .
stsnding army Of l2O0 men. and
has . population Of 100000 to draw
frSm. The army Is. 10 some extent, on
eesed by Europesns. The government
possesses ten fully equipped war vessels.
Forts With heavy guns are 1t the mouth
Of the river. into which vessels drawing
Over thirteen feet Of water cannot enter.
france naturally desires TO add this very
rieh country OF Siam TO the provinces she
he.ds In Tonquin, Cochin-China. Cam
ths great rivers Of Siam would
bs Of great strategic value to
France. On the other hand England
naturally wishes that native rule should
bs continued In Siam 20 that It should
scevs - . buffer between the French
Provinces on the east and her own posses
siens on the west. II Is quite likely that
England will interfere to this extent that
she viii not suffer France to annex Siam.
Si;e may allow France to enforce her de-
nsand for the control Of the river Mekong.
bat II is not likely that England will ever
s,sffer France to absorb Siam. for this
wtald mean the control of the grea. river
Msnam and the possession Of the city of
Baagkok.