New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-26
FRANCE STILL. THREATENING SIAM.

FURTHER DEMANDS MADE BY NJ. DE V1LERs-
MORE CORDIAL RELATIONS HOPED FOR.
london Aug. 25-A special dispatch to fhe
Times" from Bangkok says that NJ lie M!re u.
yilers the French special envoy mas oeillaiiu u y
that the Siamese Government dismiss all Daiis"
officers from its service The effect OF such ois-
,nissal would be the dsorganizaton OF the oaiie sc
Army and Navy The dispatch adds that there is
every reason to fear that France is seeking
pretext to satisfy the demands or the Chau'i"i'''
IN Saigon who desire the acquisition ot inoie
ciauese territory on the right bank OF the Mekong
River. <
\, de Vi,ers has announced in Bangkok that -FOUR
more French warships are them way to That
city Further meetings between NJ de Nhers anu u
the Siamese Foreign Minister have peen aoJouiheu
without date.
Another dispatch received in this city from Bang
kok saws that NJ de Vilers received the frehch
residents of the Siamese capital on Wednesday anu
reouested them to submit to him proposals or COM
paints especially in regard to commerclal mat
ters He stated that his object In asking Tor pro-
nosals or complaints that he might secure
from the Siamese Government more definite meas
ure. TO advance French commercial ana otner IN
,erests NJ Bonneville, a leading French merchant
of Bangkok in response, contrasted the FORMER
PROSPEROUS state of French trade In slam Win 'he
present depression, and expressed the hope that
more cordial relations would be established De-
tween that country and France.
The author of the dispatch to "The London
Times must either have been misled or else he
exaggerated the facts regarding the conduct OF NJ
IA Mvre de Viers the French special envoy to
Siam NJ de Vilers is a trained diplomat, whose
official life has been spent in Cochin China, which
he has represented as Deputy in the Paris Cham
ber He has also been French Resident at NADIA
eascar His son, an officer of dragoons is on the
staff of the Governor General Of the French pos
sessions. But NJ. de Vers though strong par
tisan like NJ. de Mahy. of LA Reunion, of colo
nial expansion is not man likely TO sacrifice the
general interests of France or uselessly TO create
enemies of his country. 1t would be strange IL
he should have required the dismissal of Danish
officers from the Siamese Navy, since France and
Denmark have been for a long time on especially
friendly terms and as there other officers than
Danes in the feet Of Siam. The commander OF the
port of Bangkok NJ Vel, is a German, whose do
ings were chroniced at the time of the threat
ened bombardment of that city and the cannonade
between the French vessels and the Paknam bat
teries
However some danger may result from the TACT
that there will not be perfect unity in the French
policy In Cochin China. The Viceroy' or Governor
General is NJ. de Lanessan. who resides In IonKlh'
hut who has opened the whole Siamese question.
over which he is naturally anxious to maintain
his control. His management has been severely
criticised even by ministerial organs IKE lie
Journal des Debats' which recalled the 1aGt tiat
the naval and military commanders In IonKlh'
we'll the financial controller the commissaryi y
general and other officais resgheu .nen & rea. "a
disgust at the manner In which they were treateo
by Nj. de Lanessan a physician WIZ nau oe'o ond
ambitious politician, devoid OF lofty ioeas anu
principles The question Is 10 Know knoW nnvnv is IN
vested with powers rendering him independent VI
NJ. de Lanessan's influence.