The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-23
SIAN WORKING FOR TIME.
Frances Foreign Minister Refuses to
Grant an Extension.


French Position Looked Upon as
Antagonistio to the Interests Of
England in the East-siam Expected
to Accept the Inevitable and Yield
to the French Demands.
Paris, July 22.-Prince Vadhana, the ST
amese minister to France to-day had an in
terview with M. Develle, the foreign
minister, and asked that an extension of
time be granted Siam in which to make
formal reply to the demands made upon
her in the French ultimatum. M. Develle
informed Prince Vadhana that the time
granted to the Siamese government for
the purpose of replying to the ultimatum
was the utmost limit that France would
concede. A reply must be given in the
time specified, and if Siam did not accede
to the demands, France would take steps
to enforce them as stated in the ultima
tum.
ENGLAND WAITING.
London, July 22.-The British govern
ment has informed the government of
Siam that no definite pronouncement can
be expected from Great Britain in regard
to the territorial demands made by
France upon Siam until report of the
conference between Lord Dufferin, the
British ambassador to France, and M.
Deyelle the French foreign minister is
received by the British government.
An ALL-ABsoRBING TOPIC.
For the first time in six months the
question of home rule has been relegatcd
to second place by British editors and
politicians. All eyes are turned eastward
and the historic spirit Of animosity be
tween the two great nations that border
the channel is being revived in It's pris-
tine vigOr. MOI even the Victoria-Cam-
perdown disaster monopolized the atten
tion of the British public as does the dip
lomatic struggle between Bangkok
and Paris. Newspapers are full
of leaders, comments, contributed
articles and letters concerning
British interestsin Slams integrity.
Although less bitter and bellgerent than
their French colleagues, the London
editors are not less earnest, and
they take every occasion TO emphasize
the Importance of Great Britain's rela-
tions to the Siamese government, country
and trade. Few OF the British editors,
however, have been dre-eating. Mos Of
them believe that the differences between
France and Siam win be adjusted ami
cably, even if unjustly. Others, notably
the Ultra Tories, profess to see ahead a
grave crisis in eastern affairs
PURE ROBBERY.
All Englishmen pronounce Frances
threatening action to be pure robbery, ex-
ecuted by force OF arms. Great Britain S
interests in the settlement of the question
are not regarded as merely commercial,
although houses engaged in Siamese
trade have raised no small part of the
popular protest against Frances action.
The opinion in high political circles is
that more important International matters
than England S immediate trade with the
east are at stake Siam has long been re
garded as the buffer between France and
England in the east and the prospect that
this buffer will be mutilated or halved is
believed to threaten trouble for the Brit
ish in Burmah. The territorial claims Of
France are not limited TO the region $50
miles wide and $50 miles long
inhabited by the tribes which Siam
has ruled but nominally and explored
only by French travellers. They extend
over an enormous piece Of Siam proper,
and, if granted, will separate Siam from
China and bring French and British pos
sessions in Asia into Immediate conjunc-
ton This Siamese territory, which
France demands chiefly because she GOV
cts it, is one of the most fertile and ad-
yanced districts of Siam.
ANNIHILATEs BRITISH TRADE.
SURRENDER Oh IL 10 bub FfCICu WOHlu
annihilate a large British trade Meth
er England nor China is likely to remain
passive in case France persists in her en-
deayors to exact this unpledged pound Of
flesh. An authority in oriental affairs
yesterday explained thus the nature of
frances demands 1T is pretty much
the same as if the French wrested Norfolk
and Suffolk from US and then claimed the
entire Midlands, whilst profess
Fg,- I'D Jfvs.
and integrity of England. The
French policy is simply to divert the
commerce of Indo-China to the Mekong
river and Saigon. AT present merohan-
disc goes up the Menam river to Bangkok,
whence it is shipped in British steam
ships.
George n. Cursor, parliamentary sec
retary for the India Office, under the last
Salisbury administration, and now con-
servative member of parliament for
Southwest Lancashire, has written an ar
ticle for the Nineteenth Century and two
singing letters 10 the Times on the ques-
tion of French intrusion in Siam.
A BLOW STRUCK AT ENGLAND.
He asks Englishmen if they cannot be
made to realize that Frances present ac-
ton is q blow struck more at England
than at Siam. Realization of Frances
hopes, he says, means interruption Of the
entire carrying trade between Bangkok,
Singapore and Hong Kong This trade is
eighty-eight per cent British. 1t is worth
several million pounds annually If
France be allowed TO play her
game unimpeded, he predicts that
the trade win be permanently
crippled. Slams answer to Frances ulti-
matum, can hardly be given before Sun
cay night Until then, therefore, every
body must await in uncertainty the de-
yelopments of the final act in the diplO-
matte drama The situation as revealed
by the answer will be discussed eXhaus-
lively in the House of Commons on Mon
day Several members have given
notice of interpella tions and Sir Edward
Grey, of the foreign Office, is expected TO
make a fresh statement as to the govern
ment's attitude If naval operations be-
come necessary before Bangkok, the
French rear admiral, Human, will be
able to command the dispatch boats Plu-
yier and Iuconstante, the gun-boats Lu-
tin, Comete. Fipere, Lion and Aspic, the
Iron clad, Triomphante, and the cruiser
Forfait.
SLAMS REPLY RECEIVED.
Paris. July %, a. m.-The Siamese re-
ply to Frances ultimatum has been hand
ed to M. Payie. the French minister res
ident in Bangkok, and telegraphed 10
the Siamese legation here. 5Its terms have
rendered necessary another exchange Of
kilograms between the legation and Bang
kok Therefore the reply Will not be