New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-20
SIAM MUST YIELD OR FIGHT
ULTIMATUM SENT BY FRANCE.
l REPLY WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS
DEMANDED
THE FRENCH FLEET TO BLOCKADE THE MEINAM
RIVER UNLESS THE TERMS ARE ACCEPTED
CASH INDEMNITY AND POSSESSION
OF TIE WEST BANK OF THE
OF TIE WEST BANK
NE KONG REoUIRED

NE KONG RForIRED
Paris, July I9.-The statement published in the
"Soir' Yesterday relative to the sending of an
utimatum to the Samesc Government is con-
frmed by sem-o1icia announcement made this
afternoon. The ultimatum has been sent but
instead of only twenty-four hours being allowed
for an answer, as stated by the "Soir," forty
eight hours will be given to Siam in which to
accept or reject the demands made upon her by
France. NJ Devcllc sent the ultmatum directly
after the close Of the session of the Chamber Of
Deputies yesterday. 1t addressed to VI. Pavie,
the French Resident at B1ngkok
The total indemnity demanded by France is
100000 francs. exclusive of the claims made
by private persons The ultimatum Declares that
# Siam does not agree to the demands made upon
her in the time specified, the French feet will
blockade the Mcinam River, upon which the
Siamcsc capital stands. If the terms offered hy
France are accepted. the French will require
a pledge of good faith permission to occupy
Of the forts OF safe anchorage at the entrance
10 the Menam River. If the principle of the
ultimatum is accepted consideration of the de-
tails may be deferred until the arrival at Bangkok
of NJ. Lemyre De Villicrs. who is now on the way
10 Siam the French Plcnipotentiary.
The reply of NJ Develle to the Interpolation
Of NJ Dreyfus in the Chamber of Deputies ycs-
terday, explaining the position of France in the
dispute with Siam, is considered masterstroke
of policy. Ii not only secured n unanimous vote
of confidence in the Government, but has evoked
praise from the press without exception.
The Figaro" says that the French ultmatum
sent to Siam demands that the Siamese evacuate
the left bank of the Ne Kong River, and that
guarantees be given by the Siamese Government
for the faitbf ful performance Of its treaty ohlga-
tions, and Indemnity be paid for Outrages per-
petrated by the Siamese upon the French.
The French are already in possession of the
lower Me Kone River, and if Siam comedies the
demands now made upon her, the river will be
made almost entirely French. a short time ago
the river aclnOW led ged 10 be- Il considerable
distance to the westward of the French sphere of
influence In AMMAN. 4 mountain range lies a
long distance to the eastward of the Me Kong.
and the French claimed no jurisdiction TO the
westward of this range Recently France claimed
the entire watershed 10 the westward of the
mountains TO the river, and now SHE demands
that the SiamrSc evacuatc the western bank,
which would place both banks of the river for
the greater part of its length in possession of the
French. This would give to France jurisdiction
certain parts of the Laos States, now trihu
tary 10 Siam. In it's more nOrtherly course the
river separates the Shan States, under British
control, from the Laos States. II France gets
possession of this territory she desires, her newly
acquired possessions will border on what is prac
tically British ground.