The sun., 1893-08-01

| Enginnu anu OeTnhuy.
To appreciate the injury inflicted upon
| France by the attempt to use the Siamese
affair for elcctioneering purposes. ono must
keep In view the signs OF change In tho re-
lations OF Germany and England. In a
single week the DUPUY Ministry have done
more to bring about friendly understand
ing between Great Britain and the Triple
Alliance than BISMARCK was able to effect
by astute and earnest overtures repeated
during many years. Until English COM
mercial interests were threatened by an
unlawful blockade. the sympathies Of the
English people were undoubtedly enlisted
on the side Of the vanquished rather than
| on that Of the victors in the war OF 1870. The
mere suspicion that Lord SALISBURY had
held out hopes of partial cooperation with
the central powers. called forth such violent
protests from representatives OF public
| opinion that the late Tory Government was
| forced to make reassuring promises that.
In the event Of Continental war. England
would not swerve from an attitude OF strict
| neutrality. When Mr.. GLADSTONE returned
to power tho popular inclination to favor
France rather than Germany was empha-
sized by the well-known prepossessons OF
the Prime Minister: and the French Gov
ernment could assume with confidence that
its European enemies would not. in any
probable contingency. be able to avail them
selves Of the vast pecuniary and naval re-
sources Of the United Kingdom.
What is tho situation to-dayf The Eng
lish people have been wounded in vital
part by the blow aimed at their commerce
and manufactures through the proolama-
% 80 90, ~ al
they discharge the functions Of principal
purveyor and common carrier. 1t Is the
English who furnish by far the largest pro-
portion Of the foreign products consumed
In Slam. and the greatest part OF the OK
ports and imports alike are transported In
English vessels. That. under the pretext
OF exerting pressure upon Siam. France
should have substituted q blockade for q
bombardment Of Bangkok. betrayed a fun
damental purpose to cripple English COM
mercial interests and lessen English inhu-
ence In the East. No other construction Of
the act is possible. seeing that as an in
strument Of coercion against Slam block
ade was valueless. almost no Siamese ves-
sells being engaged In foreign commerce.
The actual loss. therefore. to be feared from
an interruption Of trade with Siam. was but
IN inadequate measure Of the injury to be
apprehended wherever and whenever the
French Government might have an oppor-
tunity Of expressing its LII will.
It needed but little reflection on the true
purport of the blockade business to convince
the English people that their former SYM
pathy for France had been ill-appreciated;
and that, II they needed assistance In re-
pelling an encroachment on their rights.
they could find 1t In Germany. whose inter-
ests were likewise threatened. The notion
which. for some days. at all events. was
acted on by the French Foreign ONCE. that
a blockade can be enforced against neutrals
In the absence Of declaration Of war. was
one. which. as matter OF fact, would SUBJ
ject German traders In Bangkok to consid-
cradle loss. and which. as q matter Of theory.
no commercial nation could possibly accept.
Communications accordingly took place be-
tween London and Berlin. with the result.
as 1t Is generally believed. that England was
backed by Germany In the declaration to
the French Foreign ONCE. that the enforce
ment OF the pretended blockade OF Siam
against single British vessel would be
construed as an act OF war Such n notif-
cation was, OF course. effectual, and the
requisite assurances were given that the
blockade should be farce. being confined
to Slamese vessels, which are practically
non-existent.
But, although there is no longer any dan
ger OF war from the foolish proclamation OF
an unlawful blockade. the moral conse-
quences OF the incident will be lasting and
momentous. Tho eagerness OF the French
Government. which. In this respect. did but
reflect the temper Of the French people to
do England IN i'll turn. has been unmis-
takably revealed. and a reciprocal feeling Of
distrust and animosity has been kindled in
the English mind On tho other hand the
promptness with which Germany came for
ward to combine with England In curbing
French insult and aggression. has done
more than any other event which has oc-
CURED In eighty years to revive the friend
liness Of those epochs when the victories
of FREDERICK the Great foreshadowed tho
British conquest OF Canada. and when Eng
llshmen and Prusslans fought side by side
at Waterloo.
Public sentiment Is tremendous force In
q country like England. where the people
practically rule. The day may come when
France will find that the revolution In Eng
lish feeling with regard to Germany is an
outcome OF the Slamese affair. which. In its
possibilities OF harm. far outwelghs any
gain Of territory on the left bank of the
Mekong river.