Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-07-20
EXCITED FRANCE.
An Outbreak of Anglophobism Be-
cause of Siam,
The PARTISAN PAPERS RED HOT.
John Bull Accused Of Intriguing-Itw would
he Better TO Continue Biuuder-
ing Than Admit Mis-
take.

PARIS, July 1s-There IL a prospect
Of the trouble in Siam being settled
without further bloodshed. The Siam
csc government shows signs Of weak
ening, and according TO q dispatch re-
ceived from Bangkok has consented TO
withdraw the troops In the Mekong
valley, providing the French also agree
TO suspend hostilities The Siamese
version regarding the trouble at Bang
kok is that the French gun-boats were
first warned by blank shots from the
siamese forts. The French, however,
replied with shell. whereupon the
siamese were forced to similar action.
The Siamese official figures are fifteen
natives killed and thirty wounded
The French government has con-
sented TO accept an Interpolation on
the Siamese question, and NJ. Delcasse,
under secretary Of the colonies, has
privately assured several deputies that
no action will be taken in Siam calcu-
lated TO commit France to any definite
policy without first informing the
chamber Of deputies These two latter
items are the only reassuring points
in the critical situation. The govern
ment has either received no dispatches
from its agents In Siam or is withhold
ing them from publication. All real
news has been received through En-
glish sources, and this fact Ia seized
upon by the Anglophobic Paris news
papers as proof positive Of English In
trigue In Sham. These papers are urg-
ing the government TO commit an act
OF characterization rather than TO adj
init blunder that has been made, rep
aration for which would be tautamount
to humiliating submission to
England. Delocle, who is the
mouthpieoe OF the forward colon
ial policy declares that the move on
| Bangkok was intended TO avenge the
slaughter Of NJ. Grousgerin and his es-
cort He adds, by way of justification,
that the position OF Europeans at Bang
kok was very precarious and that a
massacre might occur at any moment.
II was, therefore, the duty of France
to preserve order, and he rejoices that
Admiral Humanus' vigorous action has
made II easy TO lombard Bangkok and
destroy the royal palace. This, he
says, might be done promptly before
English ships arrive, with a possible
repetition Of the Egyptian affair Of 1889
and British proteotorats in Siam.
In the present temper of the press
and the public the government would
be applauded for any decisive action
except annexation, and tho expectation
is that Siam win be forced TO cede tho
/ territory which France claims once be-
longed to the empire OF AMMAN. This
solution would, from the English point
of view, have one good result, as a
treaty of ILLUMINATION would in this
case be demanded and the possession OF
the rest Of the kingdom permanently
secured TO the king of Siam.
| A dispatch confirms the unofficial re-
ports from Saigon as TO the French
successes on the upper Mekong river
The press OF this city is most bitter
In the Franco-Siamese dispute. The
newspapers generally insist that
France deal quickly and sharply with
Siam. The Soleil says that Bangkok
will be bombarded by the French gun
boats only as last extremity should
all other means of arriving at an un-
Outstanding with Siam fail.
A council OF ministers has been held
to decide on the replies to be made tn
the interpretations of Deputies Camille
Dreyfus and Francois DE l'Oncle. The
ministers resolved TO disavow in the
chamber any intention TO interfere
with Siamese independence. Al the
same time, they decided they should in
sist that the treaties between France
and Siam be respected and that no inter
vention on the part of third power
should be tolerated In case II should
become necessary TO lombard Bang
kolS, warning should be given To
foreign powers so as to enable Them 10
protect their subjects In that city In
case Siam should decline to give com
plete satisfaction for the ofrenses
against Frances treaty rights, the
Mekong river should be bloclSaded.