Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-19
FRANCE'SULTIMATUM
Siam Allowed Twenty-Four Hours
to Make Answer.
CONTROL OF MEKONG RIVER WANTED
Claims Of the Republic Have Beer
Growing.
M. DEvILLE'S sHREwDNEss

LONDON, July ia dispatch to the Central
Ners confirms the report published by the
Paris Soir yesterday. to the effect that NJ. De-
vile, the French foreign minister, had sent to
M. Pavie, French minister resident at Bangkok,
the terms Of an ultimatum that the minister
resident is to present Immediately to the Siam
ese government.
According to the ultimatum only twenty-four
hours are given for Siam to accede to the
French demands.
PARIS, July 1s.-The Figaro says tina. the
French ultimatum sent to Siam demands that
the Siamese evacuate the left bank Of the
Mekong river. 1t also demands that guarantees
be given by tho Siamese government for the
faithful performance Of its treaty obligations,
and that indemnity be paid for the outrages
perpetrated by the Siamese upon the French.
The French are already in possession of the
lower Mekong river, and il Siam comedies the
demands now made upon her the river will be
made almost entirely French. II was but q
short time ago that the river was acknowledged
to be a considerable distance to the westward
Of the French sphere Of influence in AMMAN.
mountain range lies q long distance
to the eastward OF the Mekong river
and the French claimed no Jurisdiction
to the westward Of this range. Recently
France claimed the entire watershed to the
westward Of the mountains to the river, and
now she demands that the Siamese evacuste
the western bank, which, il they do, will place
both banks Of the river for the greater part OF
its length in possession OF the French. Thia
would give France jurisdiction over certain
parts Of the Laos states that are now tributary
to Siam.
In its more northerly course the river sep.
arates the Shan states, under British control
from the Laos states. II France gets posses
sion of the territory she evidently desires her
newly acquired possessions viii border on what
Is practically British territory.
The reply Of Foreign Minister Deville to thu
Interpolation Of NJ. Dreyfus in the chamber Of
deputies yesterday in explaining the position o
France in the dispute With Siam is considered
master stroke Of policy. Ii not only secured I
unanimous vote Of confidence in the govern
ment, but has evoked unanimous praise from
the press.
The ststement publisted in the Soir yester
day relative to the sending Of an ultimatum Il
the Siamese government Is confirmed by ,
aemi-oficial announcement made this after
noon
The ultimatum has been sent, but instead o
only twenty-four hours being allowed for al
answer, a. stated by the Soir, Siam will b,
given forty-eieht hours in which to accept o.
reject the demands made upon her by France
NJ. Deville sent the ultimatum directly afte
the close Of the session Of the chamber o.
deputies yesterday. II was addressed to n
Pavie, the French resident at Bangkok.
The total indemnity claimed by France /
5000, 900 francs, exclusive Of the claims mad
by private persons.
The ultimatum declares that il Siam does no
agree to the demands made upon her in tn,
time specified the French feet viii blockade tn
Meuam river, upon which the Siamese capital d
| located. II the terms of France are accepted
the French will require as Q pledge Of gooS
faith permission to occupy one Of the forts Of
safe anchorage at the entrance to the Menau
river.
II the principle Of the ultimstum il accepted