New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-23
HOME RULE IN ECLIPSE.
SIAM OBSCURES IT NOW
AL EYES IN ENGLAND FINED ON THE.
EASTERN WAR-CLOUD.


HER BLOW REALLY AIMED AT GREAT
TAIN-oBSTRUcTIoN IN THE COMMONS
MIR. GLAD'ToNE's BURDENS BEAvELY
BoRNE-THE VICTORIA DISASTER
TROUBLES or COAL MINERS
London, July 22.-For the first time in six
months the question of Home Rule has been rel
.gsted TO second place by British editors and
roliticians. All eyes are turned eastward and
the historic spirit Of anmosty between the two
Great nations that border the Channel is being
revived in its pristine vigor.
Not even the Victoria disaster monopolized
the attention of the British public as does the
diplomatc struggle between bangkok and Paris.
The newspapers are full of leaders, comments,
contributed articles and letters concerning Brit
sh interests in Siam. Although less bitter and
belliperent than their French colleagues, the Lon
don editors are not less earnest, and they take
every occasion to emphasize the Importance of
Great Britain's relations to the Siamese Gov
eminent. country and trade. Most OF them believe
chat the differences between France and Siam will
no adjusted amicably, even if unjusty Others,
notably the ultra-Tories, profess to see grave
crisis ahead in Eastern affairs All Englshmen
pronounce Frances threatening action to be pure
rob,ery executed by force of arms. Great Brit
aims interests in the settlement Of the question
are not regarded as merely commercial. although
the houses engaged in the Siamese trade nave
raised no small part of the popular protest
against the action Of France. The opinion In
high political circles is that more important inter
nitional affairs than England's immediate trahe
with the East are at stake. Siam has long been
regarded as the buffer between France and Eng
land in the East and the prospect that this
buner will be mutilated or halved is believed to
threaten trouble for the British in Burmah.
The territorial claims of France are not limited
10 the region l so miles wide and $50 miles long,
Inhabited BY tribes which Siam has ruled but
and explored only by French travel
lers They extend over An enormous piece Oh
Siam proper, and if granted will separate slam
from China, and bring French and British posses
sons in Asia into immediate conjunction. This
Siamese territory which France demands SIMPLY
because she covcts it is one of the most fertile
and advanced districts of Siam lhe SURRENDER
of il TO the French would annihilate q large
British trade Neither England nor China Is
likely to remain passive if France persists In her
endeavor to exact this unpledged pound Of flesh
An authority in Oriental affairs yesterday ex-
nla;ned thus the nature of the French demands:
. L. is pretty much the same as if the French
wrested Norfolk and Suffolk from us and then
claimed the entire midlands, while processing
resnect for the independence and integrity OF
England. The French policy is simply to divert
the commerce of IndO-China to the Me Kong
River and Saigon. At present merchandise goes
I'D the Meinam River to Bangkok when It Is
shipped in British steamships"
George ~ Curzon, Parliamentary Secretary Tor
the India Office under the last Salisbury Admins
tration and now Conserv ative member for South
west Lancashire, has written an article Tor Inc
Nineteenth Century" and two singing letters
20 The Times" on the question oil french IN
trusion in Siam He asks Englishmen II they
cannot be made to realize that Frances present
action is a blow struck more at England that at
Siam. The realization of the hopes of France,
he saws means the interruption Of the entire
& irving trade between Bangkok, Singapore and
Icng Kong. This trade is eighty EIGHT per cent
British 1t is worth several million pounds
annually If France he allowed TO play her game
unimpcded, he predicts, this trade Will be per-
manently crippled.
Slams answer to the French ultimatum can
hardly he given before Sunday night. Untli
then. therefore, everybody must await in uncer-
tainty the developments of the final act in the
diplomatic drama. The situation as revealed oy
the answer will be discussed exclusively in the
have given notice of interpretations, and Sir Id
ward Grey. Parliamentary Secretary for the For
eicn Office, is expected to make fresh statement
as 10 the Governments attitude.
If naval operations become necessary before
Bangkok Rear Admiral Human will be able 10
command the dispatch boats fluvier and lncon-
stante. the gunboats Lutin, Comete, Nipere Lion
ard Aspic the ironclad Triomphante, and the
cruieer Foriait.
II is now evident that the Government ih'ehos
10 hold an autumn session. In regard 10 the PRES
ent session. it is believed that when the Ministers
realize how the Obstructionlsts Will protiac' Tue
discussion of the estimates they will either post
pone the prorOgation or cut the hohuaSs SLUT.
The Tnionists are rcticent just now as to their
MAN N drive the Government by obstruction 70
premature dissolution Although they refuse TO
talk however, they are as pusnacious as ever i"'s
arc arranging for pairs during the period between
now and August s. Aiter 'ia' oa'e 'he9 WIN
heo;n % take vacations in patches of sixty. Glib
.on poul.s The champion Tory amender, has in
creased the list of his motions on the votes OF
estimates 10 an even hundred. seventy or eighty
otlcr Inionists have declared their intention to
assist him III this plan Vi o"s'ruoaio''
Eowles,s most enthusiastic supporter, Robert Han
hu,,. rors.rv.tivc member for Preston, is trying
his best at present to equai Ills 'io"' 'oO''' ~
giving notices of amendments.
When tho Home Rule bill shall have passed.
tho ,h;rd roadino. Mr. Bafour and Mr.. Gos"hen
will probably leave town LOT "s' ''" Tsa,,r,
John Gorst, Financial secretary VI WY 49,,
nader tho last Salisbury Administration. 10 lea"
the obstructive campaign against '"o - H.
Mr.. Balfour has been greatly i"'iH -. ,s,o.ds
,,.. -. .. I,n;onist leader and his friends
iosis, tina, h. must rccuperate before joining IN
tbe second crusade against the Government Mt.
G.sohe, aI,bouoh he has not borne the brunt Oh
h.ulo ;s sunoring hardly less than MIR. Baiiour
from ovcrwork u,
Curiously enough, while these Ho""s lis
are breaking down under the s''"'' .,, hos
l.ludlf0lp.