The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1893-07-28
FRANCE IN SIAM.

uefStanQ1nS Wnlcn mas arisen be
i, tween any of the countries Of the
old world, threatens to Involve the
whole of Europe III war. An ulti-
matum sent by France to Siam,
according to one report. contains
the following terms:
First, a recognition of the rights
OF AMMAN and Cambodia, ON the
lett or eastern bank of the Me
Kong river; second, the evacua-
ton of the forts held there by the
Siamese within month; third,
full satisfaction for various aggres-
sions against French ships and
sailors on the Menam river; fourth,
the punishment Of the culprits
and provision for the pecuniary in
demnity of the victims; fifth, an
indemnity of 100000 francs for
various damages sustained by
French subjects, and sixth, the
immediate deposit of 100000
francs to guarantee the payment
of the fourth and fifth claims, OF
the assignments of taxes in certain
districts in lieu of the deposit of
100000 francs.
10 give a better understanding
of the sisuation the following is
reprinted from the Oregoniam
"France has had hold in Siam
during long period. Her inter
course with that country began
three centuries ago, and has been
pushed by policy of pretty steady
encroachment, resembling that of
England in India, but not so effect
i've, since the French have not the
combination of tact and frmness
which have made the English II
successful in colonial aggression
"The French hold large prov
ces in Tonquin, AMMAN, Coch
China, and Cambodla, and til
control the eastern seaboard
the country. On the western So
board are the English, and on t he
north is China, between which
country and Siam there are con.
tinual difficulties. A country oil
100000 inhabitants, so situated
is almost helpless for defense un.
less the intruders fight among
themselves. Germany is also or
the scene, having obtained com.
mercial concessions at Bangkok
the capital of Siam, and the
French probably cannot pursue
their aggresslons very far without
protest from their European rivals
ssThe great river of the country
is the Melong or Cambodia. The
French control the mouth of this
river and the country on both sides
of it for several hundred miles into
the interior. The river, though
1000 miles i'll length, SIS not navl-
gable very far, since the noun.
famous country comes down well
toward the coast, and the river
during the greater part of its
course is great mountain torrent.
Bankok is situated far from the
French dominions, in the south
western part of the kingdom, on
the river Menam, the second great
river of the country, some miles
from the sea. Cut off from the
sea OH the east by the French and
OH the west by the English, Siam
has only a southern seaboard OF
short extent. There has been
some fighting on the Mekong be-
tween the French and the Siamese
at the line of the disputed terri
tories. This locality seems 10 be
far up the Mekong, several hun
dred miles from its mouth. Siam
has a considerable standing army,
officered in part by Europeans,
and might be able to give the
French considerable trouble.
Bangkok is quite a large city.
1t is described as striking, alike
from its extent, the strange archi-
lecture its more important build