New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-03
BLOCKADE OF SIAM RAISED.
SIR EDWARD GREY'S STATEMENT IN THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS
CRITICISMS OF BRITISH DIPLOMACY REPLIED
TO BY THE PARLIAMENTARY Sc -RETARY
OF TIE FOREIGN OFFICE AND
Mr.. BALFOUP

London Aug. Sir Edward Grey, Parlia-
nehtary Secretary Of the Foreign Office announced
In the House OF Commons this afternoon that the
French blockade Of Bangkok had been raised to-
day
immediately after this announcement. Sir Rich
ard Temple Conservative Member for the Kings
ton-on-l Thames Division Of Surrey, asked for in
formation as 10 certain points of the Franco
Siamese dispute. Sir Richard has held high
places i'll the East, having been Chief Commits,
sioner of the Central Provinces OF India, Foreign
Secretary and Finance Minister in the Government
OF India; Lieutenant-Govcrno Of BENGAL, and
Governor of Bombay In asking for informItion
he said that there was an impression in many
quarters that British diplomacy had received a
check in the negotiations between France AMI
Great Britain. Siam, he added, had been treated
in hard manner and British interests had not
been safcguardcd There was a serious feeling in
England that the action of the Foreign Office had
been incompetent. Did the ccsSion of SIamcse
territory, he asked, mean the whole left bank Of
the Mckong River? If so, it WAS unfortunate,
as it would bring France nearer to Burmah than
over before. The indemnity demanded by France
appeared TO be an eAtravagant one. 1t was cruel
for great Power like France To ask such an
indemnity in addition TO seizng from Siam the
richest districts ahutting on Menam delta and
Camb0dia. Measures ought to b. taken t. limit
the French occupation Of the territory an Occupa-
tiOn which he supposed would be only temporary
So important did he consider this point that he
would suggest that Great Britain help Siam TO
pay the money indemnity with a view f. tcrmi-
mating the French occupation OF the districts in
question.
George y. Curzon (Conservativel. Member for
the Southport Division of Lancashire, said lie
doubted the intention Of France TO execute her
pledge TO preserve the integrity of Siam. France
had acted in most arbitrary manner from the
outset of the trouble, and had shown scant con-
sderation for her victim. The assurances given
by France to England had not been kept. Mr.
Curzon concluded by declaring that the Foreign
Office on trial at the bar of public opinion.
Sir Edward Grey reproached Mr. Curzon for
trying TO embarrass the Government while ne
gotiations OF most delicate character We're
pending. The position of affairs. he said,
quired him still to maintain considerable reserve
He confident that il would he found when
the results of the negotiations disclosed, that
the action of the Foreign ONCE had been strong
as Mr.. Curzon could have desired.
This statement was greeted with cries Of
Hear, Hear"
A. J. Balfour. the leader of the Conservatives
in the House, assured the Government that the
Opposition did not intend 10 cm'arraoS the ne
gotiltious. On the contrary, the political oppp-
nents If the Government generally admitted that
little fault could be found with the action of the
Ministers in the SiamcS" trouble.
Henry Laboucherc, the well known Radical
leader who represents Northampton conplincnted
Lord Rosebery. the Foreign Minister, upon hls
statcsmanlike attitude throughout the whole
Siancse affair. and expressed the hope that v-oId
Rosebery would follow the same course III rcgarl
TO Egypt To remove natural source "i
irritation 10 France.
Sir WIhan Vernon llarcourt, Chancellor oi
the Exchcnucr .ai that lac had recognized th"
moderation in the tone Of the leaders of the OPP
position during the debate. He thought the sub
icct had been sufficiently discussed, and that IT
ought now 10 he dropped
1aris, Aug. 2.-Thc Government has ~Th au
visod that Captain IhorruN has left Saigon with
a body of troops for the PIPER Mekong