The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-07-22
A DREAM OF EMPIRE.
frances Attitude Toward Siam Significant
~

otCtSbeiH W tla ,S!.
NEW YORK, July 2o.-1he presence
of the French gunboats at Bangkok
and the evident desire of Franco to es-
tablish protectorate over Siam recall
some interesting historical studies of
that country made by Colonel David 3.
Sickles OF this city. Colonel Sickels
went to Siam as United States minister
at the beginning of President Grants
administration and remained at Bang
lsok for eight years. He was there when
General Grant made his tour around
the world and conveyed royal invita-
ton to the general from the king of
Siam to visit the domain of the mon
arch. This invitation was delivered at
Singapore. During his long residence
in Siam Colonel Sicllels made study
of the character and customs of the
natives and of their past history, cspe-
cially with reference to their relations
with the European powers
lie thinks the present visit of the
French fleet to Siam is in line with the
settled policy of France, entered upon
at the time of Louis XIV, to establish
u French empire in the east. Regard
ing this Colonel Sickels says:
"Lollis NV had mad ambition to
plant himself in the Indo-Chinesc PEN
insula. In fact, the French have had
their eyes on that country for centn'-
les. In 1910 the first Jesnit mission was
established in that territory and fifty
five years later Constantine Phauicon.
q French missionary. was elevated by
the king of Siam to the ministry Of for
eign affairs. In 1870 the French intlu-
cnce asserted itself in a proposition
made through the vicar of the Jesuit
missions TO establish a French protcc-
torate over Siam. The king declined
to acquiesce in this plan.
"Five years later the French secured
foothold in the peninsula by acquir-
ing portion of Cochin China, border
ing on the Chinese sea. The same year
q revolution in Siam upset the plans of
Phaulcon and overthrow the reigning
family. Since then the French have
been seeking some pretext upon which
to make war on Siam.
1T became the settled policy of Ma
poleon H., and in 1882 tho French
pushed their way into AMMAN, de-
throned the king and set up a protec-
torate. With Cochin China in their
possession the French lust for territory
in the cast brought the neighbor-
ing countries of Cambodia on the south
and Tonllin on the north to their at
tention. Ca1nbodia and ronl1in, with
r slice Of SIAM is what they nre after
now, ! think. Their gunboats are off
Bangkok in pursuance of what be-
lieve to be an arrangement with the
English. There will be no opposition
from any OF the western powers to the
movements of the French in the east,
for the reason that it is all understood
According to the program France will
take the whole of the eastern strip of
the peninsula, including Tonl1in, An
nam and Cambodia, and will surrender
what is left of Siam to the English.
'The usual fate awaits the reigning
family of Siam if that is the plan. They
will go on the English pension list
Such an arrangement will be of great
advantage to the English and the
French, and. as believe, to the civil
lied world England will have an I'M
broken sway over the western Ealf OF
the Indian peninsula from Burmah to
Singapore. Large sums of money will
be spent at once in the improvement
of the Mennm river and the harbor at
Bangkok. The French will possess
the rich territory of Tonlsin, in which
there are vast deposits of petroleum,
coal and other commodities. valuable
to trade and commerce"