The herald., 1893-07-26
THE AS|AT|C WAR CLOUD.
Minister Payie Leaves the
Siamese Capital.
Foreign Residents Exhibiting
Great Alarm.
French Gunboats Getting Ready to
Begin the Blockade.
Bangkok Will Not Be Bombarded, but
the Royal Palace Will Be
6tormed-China Bocom-
ing Aroused.

BANGKOK, July 25.-M. Havis, the
French minister, started down the river
this afternoon ON the warship Incon-
stante, accompanied by the warships
Lutis and Comete. All is quiet in the
city. The Saigon divisionof the French
fset. commanded by Admiral Human.
sailed today for the gulf OF Siam.
GREAT UNcERrAINrY.
LONDON, July 25.-The Times Bang.
kok correspondent Gays: "Thers is great
uncertainty as to what will happen il
the blockade begins tomorrow. British
residents will meet the British minister
tomorrow to complete measure for de-
fenee in case dangerous classes, deprived
by the blockade of employm attempt
to rise and loot the city. IT has been
arranged already that landing parties
from foreign gunboats shall occupy
strategic points. The Siamese govern
ment probably also will quarter detach-
ments Of troops in the most-populous
quarters. The government has issued q
proclamation warning the populacs to
behave peaceably and refrain from at
tacking foreigners.
ihto ulbpdbCA " buc llulob IIOm u
semi-official aoufco says that at IL
O'Clock the French vessels passed the
mouth of the Meinam river and ex-
changed salutes with the Eiamese forts.
THE PROPOSED BLOCKADE.
The Paris correspondent OF the Stand
ard says it is stated semi-officially that
the blockade will not be confined to the
estuary Of the Meinam river. but also to
the rivers east and west. 1t is said
there is no intention to lombard Bang.
kok, although the batteries on both
sides oflthe river will be destroyed and
the royal palace, where 10000 soldiers
are believed to be massed, will be at
tackled and occupied.
BRITISH INTERESTS.
In the commons today the Conserve.
tives worried ths government with
many minute questions as to what wac
being done in Siam. to care for British
interests. SirEdward Gray ssid Great Bri-
tain had received from France verbal mo-
tice of the intent TO blockade the Siam
ese coast. The British governme mt
would see to the protection Of British
subjects and their property. Further
Communications he might make to the
house must depend upon communica-
tions now passing between Great Bri-
tain and France.
THE DRAGON AROUSED.
TIEN-TsIN, July 25.-Ths Chinese gov.
ernment received the news o. Frances
territorial demands upon Siam, with
amazement and indignation. That
uh har1l1 1av 1asr 4 kr
try up to the-23d parallel is regarded at
an Intrusion upon the rights Of China
for at Pekin the contention is that both
banks Of the Mekong to point vel
south Of the 23d parallel, are Chinese
possessions. The Mandarin party
which is bitterly anti-French, ia trying
to force the government to interfere.
cHINA's VIEWS.
PARIS, July 25.-The Chinese charge
d'affaires called today on Develle and OK
planned China's views OF the Franco
Siamese dispute.
FRANCES ACTION.
A cabinet council WAS held today, a
the conclusion OF which eemi-officia
statement WAS issued to the effect that
in conformity with the unanimous vote
of the senate and chamber, the govern.
ment had taken such measures to safe
guard the interests and dignity Of France
as were considered, from the Siamess
reply to the French ultimatum, to have
been rendered necessary.
PREMATURE ANNOUNCEMENT.
Yesterday g 'sannouncement that France
had notified the powers of hsr intention
to blockade the coast Of Siam was pre-
mature. The notice has not yet beer
issued. A conference between the for
eign Office and the British ambassador
on the Siamese question will be held to
morrow.
SIAM IN HARD STRAITS.
New YoRK, July 25.-The Herald'G
Bangkok cable says: Siam has refused
to cede she Mekong frontier above lati.
tude IS. The general opinion here ia
that the refusal ia ill-advised. The for.
eiRners engaged in the service Of Siam
will, for the most part. resign in the
event of war. and aerious dafenae nf the