Iron County register., 1893-08-03
ENGLAND'S DEMAND.

ENGLAND'S DEMAND.
| 4 Sharp Note to France Asking an Ex-
PLANTATION of Her Stories About tho
Blockade. of Sfamese Ports-The French
Ministers All at Loggerheads Respecting
the Policy to be Pursued-Foreigners In
Bangkok Seeking Protection.
LONDON, July 2s.-England threw off
to-day the mask of apathy behind
which she has been concealing her real
feelings about the Franco-Siamese COM
plications. She is rapidly making
ready to put herself across the path
way of triumphant France. She has
found a pretext for interfering, and
she is making all preparations to balk
her neighbor across the channel with
something far more serious than vague
protests and threats.
The foreign Office has appreciated
from the first that the situation in Siam
might become aggravated at any mo-
ment, and notwithstanding her pre-
tense of Indifference, England has not
been idle. To-day matters came to
such a point that concealment was no
longer possible. A blockade of Slams
coast means nothing to Siam, but
it means ruin to the large and
growing commerce of England
with Siam. By the blockade England is
attacked, not Siam. Germany also is
attacked, because her commerce with
Siam is second only to Britain's. But
England is the chief sufferer. The re-
ply of Sir Edward Grey to query
about the blocka le in the house OF
commons this evening was only an Of
fetal indication of the approaching
crisis.
What VIII the Next Move Be.
LONDON, July 29.-It would require
second sight to forecast twenty-four
will be in the exceedingly complicated
game of war France is playing in Siam.
All this week she had been announc-
ing that the blockade of Slams coast
would be effective next Saturday or
Sunday. This mornings Paris papers,
with show of Official authority, posi-
lively stated that the blockade would
begin yesterday (Friday), and coupled
with that assertion was the equally
startling one that 1.5OO of the troops
forming the foreign legion have been
ordered to hold themselves in readiness
to depart for Siam.
On top of this came the news from
Bangkok yesterday in the shape of
ca b1egram from Capt. Jones. of the
British navy, that the blockade was in
effect as long ago as last Wednesday,
July 26. This official investigation
proved to be fact.
On the face of these conflicting re-
ports, it is hard to determine just what
France viii do, if anything.
The British admiralty office is highly
indignant over the matter. and it sent
yesterday very sharp interrogatory
to the French government demanding
an eXplanatio of these discrepancies.
Very cheerful news to the friends Of
Siam is that which emanated from
Paris last night, namely: That the
French ministers, President Carnot
among them, are at loggerheads re-
specting the policy to be pursued by
France in the Sialnese affair.
VIII Strike at France in Newfoundland ir
Case of War.
ST. JOHNS, N. F., July 29.-Rumors
here are to the effect that the British
war ships in this port are instructed to
UC GU AK SlSS vi q pS'SSAoAS OoC
break of hostilities between England
and France owing to the Siamese trou-
bles. The French-shore question is
the cause of continual irritation. At
the present moment two French anG
two English cruisers are on the French
shore. A third English ship is guard
ing the port. Numerous cipher tele
grams are passing between the British
vessels. The officers are non-commu
NEGATIVE, but admit they are deeply in
terested in the course of events.
Foreigners in bangkok Want Protection
Against the Chinese.
BANGKOK. July 29.-The representa-
tives here of several governments and
the leading merchants met yesterday
at the British legation to discuss what
action should be taken in the event of
rioting on the part of the Chinese, who
form a large portion of the population.
The question was left open, but it was
decided to ask the Siamese government
to station military guards in the bust
ness centers of the city as measure OF
precaution against an outbreak by the
Chinese. There are no merchant YES
sells in the river.