The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-08-16
Siam ACCEPTS TERMS.
SHE PAYS FRANCE a HEAVY
PRICE FOR PEACE.

The Original Ultimatum In Full Sub
mitted To-Vast Territory Yielded
and Indemnity Guaranteed-The
French Ministry Accepts Slams
Concession Of Frances Demands.
siam has yislded. andthe incident Is there
fore at an end, and thus ends the prospect Of
fighting in Asia. with the almost certain re-
suit Of plunging France and England into
war and finally drawing all Europe In the
struggle. It has had, as its practical and
material consequences, the increasing of
Frances colonial power in Asia and Still fur
ther straining the relations OF France with
England.
A cablegram from Bangkok says ''The
S1amese Government has accepted the full
terms of the French ultimatum. 1t Is stated
that England protested to France that her
threatened blockade Of the Siamese coast
would not be legal act, and that France
conceded the point made by Great Britain.
The Cabinet Council at which the decision to
grant oil the demands OF Frances ultimatum
was made was called at the royal palace
The King presided. His two brothers and
all the Ministers were present. After sitting
several hours the Council approved the views
Of the peace party. Instructions. were then
telegraphed to Prince Vadnana, Siamese
Minister In Paris, that the Government ac-
cepted the ultimatum, regardless Of all re-
servations previously formulated"
All the newspapers in Paris got out extras
announcing the news under flaming head
lines. Elation prevailed on the bouievards.
The following semi-oflcial statement was
given to the press: 'The Siamese Govern
ment having reconsldered its former attitude
now accepts all conditions OF Frances ulti-
matum without reserve. The acceptance
gives complete satisfaction to France and all
who were not desirous of making the
siamese difficulty the occasion OF fresh
colonial enterprise"
The meeting of French Ministers to con-
slider Slams unreserved acceptance Of
frances utimatum was held at the Elysee.
President Carnot came from Marly-le-Roi to
preside. After deciding to accept Slams con-
cession Of the French demands, the Ministers
deferred further definite action until meas
ures should have been taken to guarantee
Slams fulflment OF the French de-
mands. They took steps, how
ever, to inform NJ. Pavie, French
Minister Resident, now ct Koh-Si-Chang, Of
Slams acceptance OF the ultiulatum. The
conference Of the Ministers was prolonged
by discussion of the steps which might be
necessary in settling the boundary question
tain amount OF difficulty is expected to emr
barrass this part Of the negotiations.
The ultimatum presented by NJ. Pavie, the
French Minister at Bangkok, to the Siamese
Government was In substance as follows
l. A recognition OF the rights Of AMMAN
and Cambodia on the left or eastern bank Of
the Mekong River as far north as the twenty
third parallel OF latitude.
2. The evacuation within month OF the
forts held by the Siamese on the east bank
OF the river.
8. Full satisfaction for various Sismese
aggressions against French ships and French
sailors on the Menam River.
4. The punishment OF the culprits and
provision for the pecuniary indemnity OF the
victims.
S. An indemnity OF 2,ooo, ,ooof. (s4oO, ,oOo)
for various damages sustained by French
subjects.
6. The immediate deposit Of 5000, ,000i
(S1, 1,000,0 ,000) to guarantee the payment OF
the fourth and fifth claims for the assign
ment Of the taxes In certain districts In lieu
OF the deposit.
Forty-eight hours were allowed for Siam
to make answer to the French demands.
Next day Siam, replied, stating that the King
was at loss to understand what the rights
OF Amman and Cambodia were on the left
bank OF the Mekong River. The King ex-
pressed his willingness to abandon al the
territories over which the existence OF these
rights could be proved, and called attention
to the fact that Ave months previously he had
proposed to submit all the contested terri
torlal questions to international arbitration.
In the interests OF peacs, however, the
King offered to surrender the territory as far
north as the eighteenth degree Of latitude,
but no further, and proposed that the islands
In the Mekong River be used in common 6y
Siam and France. All the other points OF the
ultimatum were conceded.
This answer was not satisfactory to France,
and subsequently NJ. Pavle withdrew from
Bangkok, and the French wnr ships in the
Menam River went to Koh-si-Chang. an
island near the head OF the Gulf OF Siam,
where they joined the French feet, under
command ofAdmiral Human. Francethen
determined to blockade the Stamess coast.
The acceptance by Siam OF the terms OF the
ultimatum means that she will cede to France
some Us, 900 square miles Of her territory, In
cluding province which was ceded by Bur.
nah to Siam upon the condition that it should
not be coded to any other Power, and Sc, 600
square miles of Northeastern Siam, into
which the French have never advanced.