Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-23
WORLD OF LONDON.
All Attention Given to the New East.
em Question
SIlNESE FRENCH NEGOTIATIONS.
British Interest IN Maintaining tho In
tegrity Of the Oriental Kingdom
Home-RuIe BiII-Notes.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. cable to the DisUatch.l

tBy Anglo American cable to the Dispatch.l
LONDON. July 22.-For the first time In
SIX months the question OF home rule has
been relegated to second place by British
editors aud politicians. All eyes are
turned eastward and the historic spirit OF
amin osity between the two great nations
that border the channe, is being revived
in its pristine vigor.
Not even the neutrality-suspicious. dis
nster monopolized the attention OF the
British public 81 does the, dlplomatlc
struggle between Bangkok aud Paris. Inc
newspapers are full of leaders, comments.
contributed articles, and letters concern
ing British interests in Slams integ-
rity. Although less bitter and belllge-
rent than their French coAeasues,
the London editors are not less
earnest. and they take every occasion TO
emphasize the importance OF Great bri-
tain's relations 10 the Siamese govern
ment, country, and trade. Few OF the
British editors, however. have been fire.
eating. Most Of them believe that the
differences between France and siam WIN
be adjusted amicably, even II unJustly.
Others. notably the ultra-Tories, profess
to see ahead O grave crisis in eastern al
fairs.
FRANCE BoBBER.
All Englishmen pronounce frances
threatening action to be pure robbery,
executed by force Of arms. Great Britain's
interests in the settlement of the question
are not regarded az merely commercial,
although the houses engaged IN the SIAM
ese trade have raised no small part OF the
popular protest against Frances action.
The opinion in high political circles 10
that more important international matters
~ 4 D.. L.. AZ fraHo with thp
East are at stake. Siam has long been re-
earded as the buffer between France and
ENGLAND in the East and the prospect that
this buffer will be mutilated or halyed IS
believed TO threaten trou bic for the British
IN Burmah.
TRENCH TERRITORIAL CLAIMS.
Tho territorial claims of France are not
limited 10 the region, 100 miles wide and
$50 miles long Inhabited by tribes which
Siam has ruled but normally, and ex-
plored only by French travellers. they
extend over the enormous piece OF Siam
proper. and. il granted, Will separate siam
from China and bring the French ana Brl-
fish possesslonsiD ASIA into immediate con-
junction. This Siamese territory, winch
France demands chiefly because she covets
| II, Is one OF the most fertile and advanced
districts of Siam. The surrender OF IL to
the French would annihllate large Bri-
tish trade. Neither England nor emma IS
likely 20 remain passive in case France
persists in her endeaYor TO exact this un-
pledged pound of flesh
An authority In Oriental affairs yester-
day explained thus the nature OF Frances
demands: 1T is pretty much the same as
if the French wtested Norfolk and SUFFOLK
from us and then claimed the entire Mid
lands, whilst protesting respect for the
independence and integrity OF England.
| The French policy is simply to divert the
commerce of Indo-China to the Mekong
river and Saigon. At present merchandise
goes up the MeDam river TO Bangkok,
whence it is shipped in British steam
/ ships"
George n. Gurzon. Parliamentary Secre-
/ tarv for the India Once under the last
! Salisbury administration md now Con-
/ servative member OF Parliament for
/ Southwest Lancashire. has written an
/ article for the Nneteenh Century and two
| singing letters to the Times on the que5-
ton Of French intrusion in Siam. He
asks Englishmen If they cannot be made
! to realize that Frances present action IS
| blow struck more at England than at SIAM.
! The realization of Frances hopes, he says,
means the interruption of the entire car
ryine trade between Bangkok, Singapore,
and Hong Kong. This trade is 80 per cent.
British. 1t IL worth several million pounds
i
her game unimpsded. he predicts that the
trade will be permanently crippled.
SLAMS ANSWER.
Slams answer to frances ultimatum
can hardly be given before Sunday night.
Until then, therefore, every body must
await in uncertainty the Developments Of
the final act in the diplomatic drama. The
situation as revealed by the answer will be
discussed exhaustively in the House Of
Commons on Monday. Several members
have gwen notice of interpretations. and
SIR Edward Grey, Parliamentary Secretary
of the Foreign Office, is expected TO make
fresh statement as TO the government
attitude.
If naval operations become necessary be-
fore BANGKOK. the French Rear-AdmiIGl,
Human, will be able TO command the as
patch boats Pluvier and Inconstante, the
gunboats Iutin. Comte. Nipere. Lion, and