Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1893-08-03
ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND SIAM.

Inc francO-O1ameSe 1mOrOgllO
becomes more complicated every
day, but public interest il it cen
tres in London rather than at the
scene of actual disturbance.
Indeed, in its most critical and seri-
GUS aspects the matter may be said
to have now become a Franco-
English problem. Whatever else
may be said Of England's bullying
foreign policy, she has unquestion-
ably Of late years been exceedingly
conciliatory in her dealings with
France. She has carried this spirit
Of Cancellation SO far that France
has presumed upon it almost to the
extent of offering her insult. Oaly
her friendship tor France has pres
vented her from giving long age
her open adherence to the Dreis
bund-a step she has been con-
stantly and p~ersistently urged to
take by Germany, Austria-H un-
gary, and Italy.
The developments of the last
week, however, show that both the
English government and the English
people are aroused to the fact that
the operations Of the French in
Siam are aimed more at England
than at the former country, and the
indications are that if France, as is
contended in some quarters, de-
sires a rupture with England in
order to control the French elecs
tons of a month hence. she may be
accommodated.
Not only does this seem the case,
but the probabilities are that in
the event the rupture comes it viii
prove more serious and farsreaching
than France anticipated. The tone
Of the French press makes it plain
that the French government has
gone so fag in fostering the Siam
ese excitement and in actual ag-
gression that to recede would be to
bring inevitable disaster upon it,
self. The anti English sentiment,
which has been manifested 60 often
of late owe the Egyptian question,
and the war cravings have been
stimulated to a degree in Paris
which threatens the overthrow of
all who would stand in the way of
satisfying their demands.
As for the British government it
has a potent incentive to resort to
vigorous measures, aside from the
necessity of protecting British
commerce in Siam and maintaining
British prestige in that quarter by
preventing the disruption of one OF
the buffer States. Since the home
press and public have taken the
complication to heart the fate of
Gladstone's Ministry and of his
pet scheme, the Irish home rule
bill. may depend upon the governs
ment's course 1t is hardly possible
that with his small majority in the
House OF Commons MI. Gladstone
wou.d have the temerity to pur-
sue a v~aciliating policy in the
present crisis, especially after
the lesson taught him by the Khars
toum expedition and the strength
he has derived from allowing Rose
berry 10 use so far his own head in
dealing with other serious foreign
questions. It does not follow from
the acceptance by Siam of the
French ultimatum that the bears
ing of the situation upon English
interests either at home or abroad
is materially altered. AS we under.
stand it the territorial question be-
between England and France is
still an open one and on that must
finally hinge the definite settles
ment of the trouble, as it involves
directly or indirectly all the other
issues at stake.
Touching the result of a wal be-.
tween England and France it can
hardly be doubted that not only
would the former power gain the
advantage out be led to positive
alliance with the Driebund, thus
practically rendering the isolation
of France almost absolute.
Photographers say that the facial
resemblance # husband and wife