Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-07-28
FRANCE IS AFTER SIAM.
STRONG POSSIBILITY OF SOME
BLOODY FIGHTING.
France Claims n Large Slice or siamese
Territory-Sinm Refuses to Relinquish
--Blockade-England Watching.

1Cables from Paris give the following
information on the Franco Siamese
difficulty: The Siamese government
has replied TO the demand of France
for heavy indemnity for the injury of
French subjects by Siamese officials
and for the REIMBURSEMENT of Slams
claim upon territory which the French
claim as their possessions in northern
Cambodia. The reply Is signed by the
Siamese commissioner of foreign at
fairs and says that the king of Siam is
not only willing but ready TO accede To
the demands for indemnity and will
deposit 1000, 900 francs To cover such
claims as would be awarded by mixed
commission, as regards the territory in
dispute.
His majesty regrets that no precise deq-
milton @ er has been given him OF what his
ma esty Is TO understand ~ the expire >sion
rights OF the Empire OF AMMAN ana OF the
Kingdom OF CamDO ia on the left bank or
the MehOng river and OF the Islands of the
Mekong river Hi. ma esty has been ever
ready TO abandon all the territories over
which the existence of these rights should
haN g been proved, and five mon hs ago his
ma iesty proposed 10 submit all contested
points TO International arbitration NoN
lie submits TO tne pressure OF circumstances
In order to restore peace To his people and
security 10 the numerous commercial in
teresls at stake in hi country Hi ma esty,
therefore, consents 10 detineatlOn Of the
frontiers between am and CamDOda All
the territory on the left bank OF the Me-
Fong river south of a line drawn from the
most nOrtherly OF the Shame e military
posts recently Occupie by the Franco
Anndmitc troops 10 another point situated
IN the same latltude-that is on the 18th de-
gree north latitude-Will oe regarded AS
Annamite and Cambodian territory the
ri er below the point indicated becoming
the line OF scparat ion between the neigh
boring state, as far "a TO the point at which
the river enters tambOdian territory and
being
common 10 the three co-terminus states,
The two Siamese military po + now existing
in the above described territory Will be
evacuated within month.
Paris cable: The 18th parallel of
latitude mentioned in the Siamese gov
ernment's reply cuts the Mekong River
in line with Khan Muon, where Capt.
Luce is now operating with French
force. The French claim, in fact
fixed the 23d parallel as the northern
boundary. As the northern frontier of
Cambodia is along the l4th parallel
Siam in her reply grants only half of
the French demands. VI. Develle had
a long conference with Premier Dupuy.
1t is stated that NJ. Develle has notified
Admiral Human to proceed ut once TO
declare the blockade.
The Paris newspapers. led by the
Temps, are conducting a vigorous
campaign in favor of the governments
full demand, and are warning Great
Britain against any interference in the
present complication. Dispatches from
Bangkok say that the territorial de-
mands of France are regarded there as
vague. The Siamese, although in
tensely excited, are displaying great
self-control
The Soir comments thus in an extra
Il 10, -.
cedes only the least important of the
conditions put by France. Her resist
ance is due obviously TO English influ-
ence. NJ. Develle would do well TO
speak clearly and firmly TO Lord Duff
ferin."
LATER Cable: The government has
notified the powers that it intended TO
establish a blockade of the Siamese
coast, without prejudice to the other
measures that may be taken with the
object of securing to France the guar
antees TO which she is entitled. The
French government is making arrange
ments with another government for
the protection of French subjects in
Siam during the absence from Bang
kok of NJ. Pavic, the French minister
Washington special: So far as the
State Department is informed there
are no American citizens residing in
Siam, except about score of mission
aries. 1t is not believed to be neces-
sary to take any special measures for
their protection. If the welfare of our
missionaries should be threatened
which is unlikely, they can, without
doubt, secure protection upon applica-
ton TO the minister of some other
nation, as will be the case with the
French residents. The commercial
interest of the United States in Siam
are insignificant, the exports being
very few and the imports being made
up of teak wood used in ship building
and some trifes of oriental and May
lanisan decorative work.