The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-07-27
FRANC0-sIAMEsE IMBROGLIO.
RUSSIA SUPPORTS FRANCE.

RUSSIA SUPPORTS FRANCE.
PARIS, July 20.-The statement is
published that Baron Mohrenheim,
Russian ambassador to France official
ly informed the French government
prior to the session of the cham
Der of deputies Tuesday last that
when Develle, foreign minister, defined
Frances position in the Franco Siam
csc dispute that Russia would sup
port France on all points involved in
the Siamese difficulty. 1t is further
said that the Russian fleet in Chinese
waters is under orders to proceed to
the Gulf of Siam for the purpose of
supporting the French and protecting
French residents in Siam.
Senate today passed unanimously
resolutions approving in every respect
the attitude of the government in
Siamese affairs.
A dispatch received today from
Bangkok states that the Siamese court
is greatly agitated. Preparations are
apparently under way for the depart
ure of the king and court from the
capital. 1t is stated from Bangkok
that popular agitation in favor of
France has been started in the province
of Battambang, some distance to- the
southeast of the capitol, and troops
have been sent to put down the Sc.
dition.
ENGLAND'S ATTITUDE.
LONDON, July 20.-To further ques-
tions asked in commons in regard to
the Siamese trouble, Sir Edward Gray,
parliamentary secretary of the foreign
office, rehearsed the events in Siam
since the relations between that coun-
try and France became strained, snd
said the British government had
neither such sufficient nor precise in
formation as would enable it to form
a conclusion as to the merits of the
conflict. A special cabinet meeting
was summoned this afternoon.
Frances demands on Siam were dis
cussed at length and eventually in
structions for the Marquis of Dufferin,
British ambassador to France, were
formulated and approved. Immedi-
ately after the meeting Earl Roseberry,
secretary of state for foreign affairs,
communicated with the admiralty as
regards the disposition of the fleet in
Asiatic waters. Late in the afternoon
special orders were dispatched Vice
Admiral r @. F. Freemantle, COM
mander-in-chief of the Chi
nese division of the fleet.
These fects, together with
the sudden canceling of the Marquis of
Dufferin's leave of absence are regard
ed as hardly in harmony with the
official prediction of a perfectly AMIGA
BILE settlement with France of the
Siamese difficulty Even if not
alarmed by the course of France, the
government is believed to realize that
the Siamese affair is fraught with most
serious possibilities for which immedi-
ate preparations must be made by
Great Britain.
CREATING SENTIMENT.
LONDON, July 20.-A special TO The
Times from Bangkok says a recent
statement of the Siamese difficulty
made in the house of commons by
Sir Edward Gray, parliamentary secre-
tary Of the foreign Office, and particu-
larry that portion of 1t referring to
Frances declared desire to maintain
the integrity of the Siamese territory,
created a favorable reaction in native
and foreign feeling in BaDe kok. The
dispatch adds that the present and
future position of Great Britain in
Siam depends on the action taken by
the French.
CHINA WILL HELP SIAM.
TIENTsEN, July 30. - Information
has been received here from Pekin to
the effect that China has taken meas
ures to support Siam against the
French. Siam has for many years
paid tribute to China, but only as a