The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-07-25
NJ. PITlE 70 DEPART.
The French Minister to Leave
Bangkok Tomorrow.
THE SITUATION STILL CRITICAL
Any Untoward Act of the Excited Slam
ese as tho Minister Is Going Down tho
River May Lead to tho Long Feared
Bombardment. ."+-


River May Lead to the Long Feared
Bombardment. ..".
BANGKOK, July 25-M. Pavie, French
minister resident, has lowered the flag
over his offices, and has notified the Siam
ese government that he will leave the city
to go aboard the French warship Incon-
stante tomorrow He has reque1ted the
government to provide pilots to conduct
the Lutin and Comte down the river.
French subjects in Bangkok will be placed
under the protection of the Dutch consul.
LONDON, July ga Bangkok telegram,
published in London, declares that the
Siamese government offers to pay an in
creased indemnity in lieu of the cession of
the province of Luarj Pradang to France.
Either the correspondent has been misin-
formed or the French government has mis-.
represented the text Of Slams reply, as
impaired to the Paris press. What is quite
certain is that we have not yet seen the
verbatim report Of the ultimatum.
Suspicion exists in many quarters that
France has Intentionally withheld part
Of the ultimatum and the reply, and as
the session of the chamber is closed, the
public have little chance of learning the
real position. NJ. Pavie's official dis
arrived in some confusion, and, being in
cipher, an omission, such as has been re-
ferred to, could be easily explained away.
Accompanying the telegram to the Siam
ese legation in Paris, containing Slams
reply, was another dispatch with confiden-
tial instructions, which has not been pub
lished, but which was retransmitted to
Lord Rosebery. This may, perhaps, have
contained the offer Of an increased in
demnity.
The eighteenth parallel of latitude men
toned in the Siamese governments reply
cuts the Mekong river in line with Khan
Muon, where Captain Luce is now operat-
ing with French force. The French
claim, in fact, fixed the twenty-third par
allel on the northern boundary. AS the
northern frontier of Cambodia is along
the fourteenth parallel, Siam in her reply
grants only half of the French demands
The situation is extremely critical The
conciliatory reply is entirely due to the di-
rect influence of the king of Siam; but, in
the present temper of the Siamese, he may
be unable to prevent some untowurd Incl
dents, such as firing on the gunboat In
constante as she passes down the river,
with NJ. Pavie on board II this should
occur, the French would Immediately
lombard Bangkok. The Paris Figaro
ascribes Slams request for an expansion
of time and a desire to prolong negotia-
tions, to an intention to render the French
gunboats impotent by exhausting their
coal supplies before they are able to leave
the river.
The Siamese warships are anchored
mile higher up than the French, and
around bend Of the river, which shelters
them from sudden French attack. The
10, .,sf "a 4
would give them distinct advantage in
descending upon the French vessels, which
would be compelled to slip their anchors
and manoeuvre at disadvantage.
The London papers are filled with lead
ing articles in which France is charged
with aiming at the commerce of England
and other countries having commercial
relntiol with Siam, and warning the re-
publichot TO go too far.
The Times says editorially; "England's
main objection in the matter is against
making British and French possessions in
Asia conterminous. If she so desired she
might warn France of the dangers she is
running by reminding her of the Tonquin
fiasco."
The Standard says; "The terms that
France is trying to impose on Siam would
be undefendable in any court of interna-
rience which we gained from tho occupa-
sion of Tunis of the methods of French
diplomacy forbids us to accept too confid-
ingly the published program of the Quai
d'Oisay. 1t the Earl of Roseberry's duty
to tell France plainly that she is pledged
to respect the Independence of this buffer
state. We cannot remain inactive in the
face of Frances preparations for contrary
action"
PARIS, July 25.-The Paris Soir utters
threat that France and Russia will COM
bine to put the screws on England, and
says: "The concordance between the Rus
sian movement In the Pamirs, and that of
France in Siam, has not been sufficiently
remarked 1t may be mentioned in pass
ing that Russia hides tho nature of her ad-
vance in the Pamir by calling ita scientific
expedition
The Liberte says that the French gum
boats probably will go down the river,
shell and destroy the paknam forts, and
then return to their positions before Bang
kok to lombard the palace Some painful
measure is necessary. adds this journal.
for the preservation of Frances prestige
The Debats thinks the Samese will be
provided surreptitiously by England with
all the arms they need. The majority of
the Paris newspapers devote as much
space to denunciations of England as to
the matter at issue between France and
Siam. England is reproached by them
with supporting the Siamese in their op.
position to Frances Just demands and
with planning to give the Siamess secret
aid when hostilities begin.
The Temps says that the beginning of
the blockade will be deferred until Thurs.
day or Friday to enable France to take the
steps prescribed by international law. Be.
sides the blockade, military operations
will be opened shortly. The details of
these operations are still undetermined.
They will be settled at cabinet council
Within day or two. Steps will be taken
in Indo-China towards serious action i'm
mediately after the arrival Of the battalion
of the foreign legion.
The Siamese secretary OF legation said
last evening that no further news had been
received from Bangkok. Upon seeing NJ.
| Pavie embark he added the Siamese gov.
eminent might decide to accept the terms
| OF the ultimatum.
| Leading louisville Bank Suspcnds.
| T,.l, n 7 l.