The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-07-26
M. PAVIE TO DEPART.
The French Minister to Leave
Bangkok Tomorrow.
THE SITUATION STILL CRITICAL

Any Untoward Act of the Excited Siam
River May Lead Co tho Long Feared
Bombardment.
BANGKOK, July 25.-M. Parie, French
minister resident, has lowered the flag
over his offices, and has notified the Siam
csc government that he will leave the city
to go aboard the French warship Incon-
stante tomorrow He has reQue7ted 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
oiamese government offers to pay an in
creased indemnity in lieu of the cession of
the province of Luanj 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 vet seen the
verbatim report of the ultimatum.
suspicion exists in many quarters that
France has Intentionally withheld a 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
patches containing the text of the reply
arrived in some confusion, and, being in
cipher, an omission, such ms has been re-
ferred to, could be easily explained away.
Accompanying the telegram to the Slam
csc legation in Paris, containing Slams
reply. was another dispatch with confden-
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 A1ekc2g river in line with Khan
Muon, where Captain Luce is now operat-
ing with n French force The French
claim, in fact, fixed the twenty-third par
allel on the northern boundary. AS the
northern frontier of Cambudia 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 intoward incl
dents, such as firing on the gunboat In
constante as She passes down the river,
with NJ. Pavie on board. If this should
occur, the French would Immediately
lombard Bangkok. The Paris Figaro
ascribes Slams request for an expansion
OF time, and desire to prolong negotia-
tons 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 a
mile higher up than the French, and
around u bend of the river, which shelters
them from sudden French attack The
current on the Menam is very swift. and
would give them u distinct advantage in
descending upon the French vessels, which
would be compelled to slip their anchors
and manGuvre Mt 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
relations with Siam, and warning the re-
public not to go too far.
The Times says editorialiy: ''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 Tonouin
fiasco"
The Standard says: 1.-THE terms that
France is trying to impose on Siam would
be understandable in any court of interna
tional morality. The remarkable expe
riencs which we gained from the occupa-
sion of Tunis of the methods of French
diplomacy forbids us to accept too confid
ingly the published program of the Quai
d'Orsay. tits 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 a
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 Ill Siani has not been sufficiently
remarked. 1t may be mentioned in pass
ing that Russia hides the nature of her nd
vance in the Pamir by calling it q scientific
expedition
The Lberte says that the French gun
boats probably will go down the river
shell and destroy the Paknam forts. and
then return TO their positions bsfore Bang
kok to lombard the palace. Some painful
measure Is necessary, adds this journal.
Tor the preservation of Frances prestige
The Debats thinks the Siamese 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
tho matter at issue between France and
Siam. England is reproached by them
with supporting the Siamese in their OBJ
position to Frances Just demands and
with planning to give the Siamese secret
aid when hostilities begin.
The Temps says that the beginning of
the blockade will be deferred until Thnrs
day or Friday to enable France to take the
steps prescribed international law. Be.
sides the blockade, military operations
will he nnRnnd shnrtlx- The .la4nn.