The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-07-26
INDIGNANT CHINAMEN.
Trying TO Force the Government
Into the Siamese Dispute.
THE BRITISH INTERESTS IN SIAM

Sir Edward Gray, Parliamentary secre-
tary OF the Foreign once, Declares Tha
the French blockade win be an Act Of
Belligorency-N Pnvie Leaves Bangkok
TrEN-TsIN. July 8-The Chinese gov
trnment has received the news of Frances
territorial demands upon Siam with
Rmazement and indignation. That France
Ihould lay claim to country up TO the
twenty-third parallel is regarded as an in
trusion upon the rights of China for ut
Pekin the contention Is that both banks of
the Mekong to point well south of the
twenty-third parallel are Chinese posses
sions. The Mandarin party which is Bit
terly anti-French, is trying to force the
government to interfere.
PARIS, July 26. A cabinet council was
held yesterday at Marly-Le-Roi, where
President Carnot is temporarily sojourn-
ing NJ. Carnot presided over the delib-
orations, which were entirely devoted to
the Samese question. After the council
rose it was stated that the government
had taken such measures to safeguard the
interests and dignity of France as were
considered from Slams reply to the
French ultimatum to have been rendered
necessary.
It is stated semi officially that the block
nde will not be confined to the estuary of
the Menam but that the rivers east and
west also will be boCkaded. Rear Admiral
Human will occupy an island eighteen
miles from the Menam. 1t is reported also
that there is nOintention TO lombard Bang
kok, although the batteries on both sides
ofthe river at Paknam and on the island in
midstream will be destroyed. The Royal
Palace, where Il, 600 soldiers are believed to
be massed will be attacked and occupied
The Debats after noting that the region
south of the twenty-third parallel, TO
which France hopes TO extend her territory
in Siam, includes the provinces ceded by
Great Britain to Siam after the Burmese
war, makes these comments; This, we
believe, is what the marquis Of Dufferin
was charged to represent to M. Develle,
and what China has also directed atten-
| tion to- 1t is useless, therefore, to shut
our eyes to the fact that, beyond certain
| points, we no longer have to deal with
| Siam, but perhaps with England, and GER
| tainly with China"
| The Chinese charge daffares called on
NJ. Develle minister of foreign affairs,
and explained the Chinese governments
views of the Franco-Siamese dispute.
A dispatch from Bangkok states that M.
/ Pavie. French minister resident, started
down the river yesterday afternoon on the
warship Inconstante, accompanied by the
warships Butin and Comete. All was quiet
in the city.
LONDON, July 26--In the house Of com
mons Mr.. John leng, Advanced Liberal,
asked if the government was aware that
British subjects possessed rights over
forty square miles of land in the Siamese
] Do
tambang for working ruby and sapphire
mines, and whether, in the event of France
anneXing these provinces, care would be
taken to guard British interests.
Sir Edward Grey, parliamentary secre-
tary of the foreign Office, stated in reply
that the government was aware of the
mining rights held in Siam by British sub
iects, but he pointed out that the province
in which these rights are held lie to the
west of the Mekong river, and were not
therefore included in the territorial de
mands made by France.
Hon. George n Curzon, Conservative
asked whether France had notified Great
Britain that she had established a block
ade of the Siamese coast; whether the
establishment of such a blockade would
be regarded as an act of belligerency be-
tween France and Siam; whether the
]
by Great Britain and what the govern
ment proposed to do in regard to the mat
ter.
Sir Edward Grey replied that Great
Britain had received from France verbal
notice of the intention of the French gov
ernment to blockade the Siamese coast.
The blockade would certainly be an act of
belligerency. The British government,
Sir Edward added, proposed to continue
its present protection of the lives Of Brit
ish subjects i'm Bangkok and of the prop
erty of British subjects.
MIR. CurzOn then asked: Suppose any
British vessel, even a ship carrying mails,
should ascend the Menam river after
Thursday, will it risk being captured OF
fired upon by the Frenchg If so, what
steps will the government take to miti-
gate such q state of aff8irs2 And further,
when may we expect notification of the
proceedings of our ambassador in Paris?i
Sir Edward stated that any further com
munication he might make to the house
must depend upon the communications
now passing between Great Britain and
France. As to the details of the blockade
he must state that the government had
only just received notice of the fact of the
intended blockade.
Sir Charles Dixie asked "Will there be
a declaration of war, or merely an implied
belligerency? VIII not the blockade bC
established under the pretense of its being
what is called pacific blockadeY"
Sir Edward replied: 81 can't add any
thing to what have said. Great Britain
has a sufficient force off Bangkok to pro
tect British subjects and property"