The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-29
r. THERE TO BIZ War BETWEEN
xxorANp AND FRANCEf

ferests In the furthest borders OF Asia
threaten a disturbance OF the peacefui
relations between England and France7
The bare statement Of this question Will
cause surprise in many minds, yet II
cannot be denied that the relations there
between the representatives OF the two
countries are strained TO their utmost
limit and may break at any time.
very comprehensive article in recent
issue OF the London Spectator gives
graphlc and clear account OF the situation
there. with n frank avowal that while
conservative Englshmen deprecate the
possibility OF a serious breach with
France. they recognize that one Is immi-
nen;. The Spectator says;
"The news from Siam is very ugly In
deed. and Lord Roseberry will have his
hands full OF most irksome and anxious
business. lie is not dealing with friends.
mind. but with men 80 exasperated by
the occupation OF Egypt. that If they
could give us a gentle stab in the back
not quite mortal. but still tending 10 pro-
duce gangrcne. they would feel relieved
OF much Of their burden Of care
IL such maintenance involves quarrel
with France, the quarrel must be awaited
with resignation and resolve.
The maintenance" referred TO In this
almost threatening language, is the main
tenance Of England's ally. the Queen OF
Siam. against attacks which the French
in Anam are distinctly threatening her
with.
II the reader will take his map and
examine It he viii find that there is
considerable stretch Of territory between
the apparent westwardly border Of Anam.
occupied by the French. and the Mekong
or Cambodia river. which runs parallel to
that western border. The French think
II would be no hard thing TO stretch their
western border 10 the Mekong river and
make that the line between themselves
and Siam. But TO do this they must drive
out Of the territory soldiers Of the Queen
Of Slam who occupy 1t and hold 1t as
territory OF the Kingdom OF SIAM This
would be very simple thing for French
regulars to do IL Siamese soldiers were
all they had to reckon with, but unfor-
tunately for the project there is a treaty
Of alliance, offensive and defensive, be
tween the Kingdom f Siam and the An
gio-fndian Government, by which the lat
ter binds itself TO guarantee TO the former
the integrity Of its dominiOns against all
corners: so that when the French regu-
lars begin that famous march TO the
Mekong river they will certainly meet
with British regulars directly in their
path. and it is one thing for French regu-
lars 70 move Siamese regulars out Of the
way. but quite another thing for them TO
move British regulars out Of the way.
The Anglo-Indlan policy which lies at
the bottom Of the alliance with Siam is
an idea which has long held place with
the British Government in India that It
should maintain a series Of buffer States
between India and the nSions adjacent
10 her. Thus they maintain Afghanistan
against Russia. Persia against Russia
also. Nepaul against China, and Siam
against France. Whether this policy Is
wise or not II is British-India policy,
and it will be defended against France
with the same resolution and vigor that
was manifested when Russia showed a
disposition TO encroach on 1t in the
Afghanistan matter eight years ago. The
Spectator thinks the necessity for pre-
serving her prestige amongst her eastern
subjects. or citizens as you may choose
to call them. will impel the French TO
bring on a collision in Siam which will
mean war between France and England
hence the tone Of the remarks we have
quoted.
In view OF the possibility OF such
contest, it is interesting to glance at an
article contributed by Sir George Baden
Powell, NJ. p, TO the Fortnightly Review
for June upon the resources Of the British
Empire. He thus states a comparison be-
tween England of to-day and ENGLAND Of
1897: