The morning call., 1893-07-27
lndeterminate Demands
of France.
SLAMS HANDS WERE TIED.
Asked to Agree Definitely to Very
Indefinite ProposaI-The Twenty.
Third Parallel.
Special to THE MORNING CALI.

BANGKOK. July 26.-The French Minis
ter prior to his departure had final inter-
view with Devawongse, the Siamese
Foreign Minister, who said that his Gov
ernment was astonshed that France con-
sldered the reply of Siam as refusal to
comply with the ultimatum. 1t was i'm
possible. he said, to accept definitely an
Indefinite proposal.
France had never defined her rights in
AMMAN and Cambodia, but the King
earnestly desiring peace and speedy set
tlement of the whole case, had declared his
readiness to abandon to AMMAN and Cam
bodia all the posts attached, as well as the
territory near them. including Stungtreng
and Khong. although these last-mentloned
places were admitted to be Siamese.
SAIGON, July 26-The French flag has
been holsted on the island of Kong Samlon.
which will be made basis of her future
operations. The French Government has
also decided to take possession of other
islands On the Gulf of Siam.
PARIS, July 26-The Chinese Charge
d'Affaires had long interview with NJ.
Develle to-day. in which he informed the
French Minister that Siam had no territory
east of the Mekong as far north as latitude
% which parallel is claimed by the French
as the northern boundary of their lnfiu-
ence. He regarded it as unlikely that the
black flags would join the Siamese in the
event Of hostilties with France, but
thought that If they saw France and Siam
embroiied the black flags might resume
the offensive in Tonqun.
The police. by order of the Government,
are seizing cheap maps of Siam offered for
sale on the houleyards. representing the
Siamese frontier in accordance with Eng
lish ideas.
There is some irritation in France at the
halfway measures taken against Siam.
The Government lets it be understood that
it has taken active coercive not warlike
action, and the Siamese can stand action
of this kind for an indefinite time. 1t is
the foreign trade that will suffer, and the
proposed blockade is, in fact, only hostile
to England.
A London dispatch four days ago said
that both China and England would pro-
test against the enforcement of the ex-
treme territorial demands against Siam.
There is reason to believe that this has
now been done by both countries. China
expressed her views. through her Charge
d'A ffahes TO Minister Deys're. The terr.r
of the message from Peking to the French
Government are not known, but it is be-
lieved that it still further delayed the Off
cial notification to the powers of the
blockade, which has not yet been given,
in spite of the announcement of an Eng.
glish news agency to the contrary.
LONDON. July 26.-Merchants interested
in Siamese trade have forwarded a joint
letter to Lord Rosebery, pointing to the
injury which will be inflicted upon Singa-
pore and Hong Kong by a blockade of the
Siamese coast. These colonies would be-
come dependent on Saigon for their supplies
of rice, and thus France would have an
interest in beDefiting Cochin China by a
prolonged blockade, which probably would
produce famine and perhaps a native
revolt at Singapore.
A Paris dispatch to the Times says:
"Lord Duffern had an audience with
Develle this morning. A Cabinet council
was held this evening. but tha greatest
secrecy is maintained"