The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-07-27
EUROPEAN WAR CLOUD.
FRANCO sIAMEsE TROUBLES AssUM-
ING MOST sERInUs PROPORTIONS.
1t Is Broadly Intimated That France Has
Concealed From the Public Portion Of
Her Ultimatum and Slams Reply.
Blockade Effective This Week.

patch from London this Afternoon
states that a Bangkok telegram pub,
lished there declares that the Siamese
government offeres to pay increased
indemnity in lieu of the cession of the
province of Luang Prabing to France.
Either the correspondent has been
misinformed or the French govern
ment has misrepresented the text OF
Slams reply as impaired to the Paris
press. What appears quite certain is
that we have not seen verbatim re.
port of the ultimatum. Suspicion
exists in many quarters that France
Intentionally withheld part of both
the ultimatum and of the reply, and
as the session of the chamber is closed
the public has little chance of learn
ing the real position.
Pavie says the official dispatches
containing the text of the reply ar
rived in some confusion, and being in
cipher an omission such as has been
referred to could be easily explained
away. Accompanying the telegram
to the Siamese legation in Paris con-
tanning the Siamese reply was anoth-
er dispatch with confidential instruc-
tions which have not been published,
but which were transmitted to Lord
Roseberry. This may possibly have
contained an offer of increased indem-
nifty.
The situation is extremely critical.
The conciliatory reply is entirely due
to the direct influence of the king of
Siam, but in the present temper of
the Siamese he may be unable to pre-
firing on the gunboat Forfait as she re-
tires down the river with Pavie on
board. If this should occur the
French would instantly lombard
Bangkok.
Paris Figaro ascribes the Siamese re-
quest for extension of time and a desire
to prolong negotiations to an intention
to render the French gunboats impo-
tent by. exhausting their coal supply
before they are able to leave the river.
The Siamese war ships are anchored
mile higher up than the French az n
around the bend of the river, WI TAI
shelters them from a sudden F ,a,oi,
attack, The current of the NJ sn so IL
very swift and would givet ON @ die 20
tinct advantage in desce ,o5Sno ,,non
cne 5 fIeneh - vessels sS " nich would be
compelled co apeLed. to slip cheir anchors and
A DUG e.; aV disadvantage,
Frono ne a Hoil 0tters q threat that
mt ~ Id Russia will combine to
RI >se screw on England, and says
-.e concordance bet @een the Russian
movement in PaInirs and that Of
France in Siam has not been suffi-
GENTLY remarked. 1t may be men
toned in passing that Russia hides the
nature of her advance in Pamirs by
calling it scientific expedition.
BLOCKADE REFLECTIVE THIS WEEK
LONDON, July PA dispatch from
Paris to the News agency states thai
the blockade of the Siamese coas
will become effective Thursday or Fri
day, next. Franco Siamesc compiled
tions have been the absorbing topic il
the Hobbies of the house of commons
today. The situation is regarded will
apprehensions by all parties and tn
news from Bangkok and Paris are real
with anxiety and eagerness. This af
| ternoon council of ministers was sum
moned at the instance of Lord Rose
4 berry, secretary of state for foreign al
fairs, and the subject discussed wa
the situation at Bangkok.
NO AMERICANS IN SIAM.
WASHINGTON, July 24.-As far a
the state department knows there ar,
no American citizens residing in Sian
except about score of missionaries
1t is not believed accessory to tax
any special measures for their proteC
ton. The United States has no dip
lomatic representative in Siam an,
the consul general at Bangkok, Mr.
Royal, is in this country at present
eaving his Office in charge of his son
the vice consul. If the welfare of mis-
tionaries is threatened, which is un
likely they. can secure protection upol
application to the minister of som
other nation as will be the case wit
the French residents The CONNER
cial interests of the United States il
Siam are insignificant.
BRITISH SENTIMENT.
LONDON, July 24.-The Globe say
the fragrant French aggression is ain
ed at England. Siam is merely pre-
text. The duty of the British foreig
Office is one of extraordinary difficulty
England's place in the situation
paramount. Firmness is necessary
} for doubtless France is counting upo
the feebleness of the British consu
She is less hungry for war near HON
than on the Mekong river.
The st. James Gazette says: "On
thought conveyed by Slams reply t
the French ultimatum is that she hf
suffered enough humiliation for
small power that has been unfortu
, nate enough to get in the way of
big one. But France has gone fort
; to extort her desires at the cannon
mouth. We can endure the pi
lage of Siam to the 18th parall
of latitude, but the pillae
, of Siam, China and Durmah to tt
twenty-third parallel is a differer
matter. We are afraid that Lord Ros
berry British foreign minister) mu
let the governments at Bangkok an
Paris know that this is going trif
too far. Such check in the preseI
temper of the French may have S
rious result"
The Pail Mall Gazette characterize
Erapoa'S 6amandS no hlackmoiI. h