The morning call., 1893-07-24
France Rejects the Siam
csc Offer.
PREPARING FOR A BLOCKADE
English War Vessels Are Training
Their Guns On the
Frenchmen.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

PARIS, July 23.-Siam's reply is SUBJ
stantially as follows: "His Majesty re-
grsts that no precise definition mas ever
been given him as to what his MaJesty Is
TO understand by the expression, hlghls
of the empire of AMMAN ana Klhgooni VI
Cambodia. ON the left bank OF the Me-
kong River and islands OF the Mekong
River
His Majesty has ever been ready to
abandon all the territories over whlch the
existence of these rights should have peeh
proved and five months ago proposed 10
sphmit all contested points to Inter
national arbitration. Now ne consents to
+ho dalimitation of the frontiers between
Siam and CambOdla.
All the territory on the left bank of the
Nfekong River. south of the line drawn
from the most northerly of Siamese mill
tary posts recently occupied by French
Annamese troops, to another point sltu-
ated in the same latitude, that Is, on the
eighteenth degree north latitude, will be
regarded as Anpamite and Cambodlan ter
ritOry.
The river below the point indicated be-
coming the line of separation between the
neighboring States as far as point where
the river enters Cam bodian territory, and
the use of the Island in the river being
common to the three coterminous States.
The King derlores the losses exper-
fenced by both sides in connection with
Keng-Kien and Khammon incidents, as
well as the regrettable collision at the
mouth of the Menam River. The Bang
bien will be liberated, and other satisfac-
tion demanded will, If necessary, be
given, as far as compatible with ordinary
Justice and independence of the Siamese
Government, which the French Govern
ment declared its desire to respect
Four persons found guilty of acts of per-
sonal aggression against French subjects
will be punished, and wherever necessary
compensation in money will be made to
relatives Of the victims. The claims made
by French subjects owing to the actions Of
the Siamese officials are contested by the
latter.
The King, however, agrees not to insist
Cd the question Of principle and to hand
over to the French Government 100000
francs for the benefit of those who suffered
the above mentioned l5sses.
The Siamese Government proposes.
withor1; however, mak'aaSt condition.
the appointment of rslxeH commission to
iuQuira into the question of damages, and
for the amount of money indemnities men,
toned in the French demand the Siamese
Government will Immediately deposit
5000, 600 francs to cover the am cunt of in
Identification designated above.
The King, however. has reason to be-
lieve. after proper inquiry, that this sum
will be found to exceed tho amount of in
IDENTITIES claimable of justice of the
French Government
The reply closes by saying that the ST.
amese Government is confident that in ac-
cading to the demands Of the French Gov
ernment in this manner it has given proof
of sincere desire to maintain good rela-
tions and settle in the most complete man.
ner all pending questions.
Develle had long conference with Pre-
mier Dupay all day. Only at the last
minute was it decided to impart to the
press Slams reply and the Government
decision. 1t is stated that Develle has
notified Admiral Humann to proceed at
once to declare the blockade.
La Soir comments thus in an extra edi-
ton on Slams reply:
"Siam comedies only the least important
of the conditions put by France. Her re-
sistance is due obviously to English influ-
ence. NJ. Devele would do well to speak
clearly and firmly to Lord Dufferin."
The eighteenth parallel mentioned in the
Siamese reply cuts the Mekong River in a
BE with Khan Muon, where Captain Luce
Is now operating with French forces. The
French claim, in fact, is fixed by the twen-
ty-third parallel as the northern boundary.
AS the northern frontier of Cambodia is
along the fourteenth parallel. Siam in her
reply grants oaly half the French de-
mands. Paris newspapers ledby LIE Temps
are conducting vigorous campaign in
favor Of the Governments full demand
and warning Great Britain against any
Interference in the present implication.
Dispatches from Bangkok say that the
territorial demands of France are re-
garded there as very vague. The Siamese,
although intensely excited, are displaying