The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-08-05
THE BRITISH HAND.

THE BRITISH HAND.
vlsibfe In the Settlement OF the Franco
siamese Dinneuity-sham Accepts the
Terms of the French Ultlm.tum AFTER
Receiving Certain Assurances fross
Great Britain Regarding the DsDeDr
berment Of the Kingdom.
PARIS, July So.-The following semi
official statement was given TO tho
press yesterday evening:
The Siamese government having re-
considered its former attitude, now ac-
cepts all conditions of Frances ulti-
matum without reserve. The accept
anee gives complete satisfaction to
France and all who We're not desirous
Of making the Siamese difficulty the
occasion of fresh colonial enterprise.
After referring to the cabinet meet
ing yesterday and the cabinet meeting
called for to-day the statement closes
with the words: -
The French government. desiring to give
proofs Of ITS good will 10 Siam probably win
not raise further objections in the sfair.
Another semi-oficial statement de-
mics the truth Of the rumor that NJ.
Develle and NJ. Delcasse. under secre-
tary of state for the colonies, have re-
signed
The public will have proof In the
outcome of the Siam affair."" says the
statement ''that Great Britain has not
interyened and does not intend to do
sO.T
The Jourx accepts this last state
ment only with a grain of salt. 10
says that something has been done be-
hind the scenes, and the French are
likely to awaken soon to the fact that
Great Britain after all has got the bet
ter of them in the diplomatic negotia-
tions. The Jourx describes the sud-
den softeninge of tone of the British
cial sources that effect would be given
to the British representations.
Slam Received Secret Assurance Before
Yielding.
BANGKOK, July s1.-While the gov
ernment of Siam accepted without
reservations Frances ultimatum it re-
ceived previously the assurance that
the kingdom would not be dismembered
until after the consideration by all
powers concerned of Frances demaDd
for the territory between the eighteenth
and twenty-third parallels IL is
somewhat remarkable that before
Prince Vadhana, Siamese minister in
Paris, could have received his instruc-
tions to accept the ultimatum Great
Britain's refusal to recognize the
blockade had became known in this
city, The British residents here, while
rejoicing over the action of the home
government, do not forget to give
credit to Capt Jones, British minister
In bangkok, for his careful and judi
cious conduct throughout the critical
period. When his advice was sought
by the court chaplain. Jones pro-
nounced in favor of moderation and
concession.
The blockade is still maintained by
the Forfait, Lunait, Constante and
Comete. The British war ship Swift
remains at the bar within the blockade
limits The British war ship Linnet
and the German war ship Wolf are an
chored in the river off Bangkok. The
British mail has been allowed to pass,
but mercantile correspondence to
Siamese firms has been shut off. Rear
Admiral Humann has arrived at Co
Hai-Chang. NJ. Pavie remains at the
same port. as all negotiations subse-
quent to the disruption have been car
ried on directly with Paris.
The French have seized the Siam
mail steamer Pantaboin and the Hong
.h-,lu ,,-s<l, CHI
nese aboard. The Phrachula was al
lowed to land her passengers and
cargo Mt Bangkok She will sail for
Hong-Kong to-day.
OF the British steamers rendered idle
by the blockade, twelve are in the
trade with Hong-Kong, eight with
Singapore and one with Honolulu.
Britain's Hand In the settiement.
LONDON July 31.-BeyoDd question
the Siamese affair brought France and
Great Britain much nearer hostilities
than the public have realized. The
earl of Rosebery, British foreign sec
retary, has had virtually free hand
in the negotiations with France. and
he has found an able supporter in the
marquis of Dufferin, British ambassa-
dor in Paris. Each has maintained a
dignified attitude far removed from
bluster, but firm beyond any misun--
derstanding. Together they impressed
upon the French official mind unmis-
talably their intention not to let any
body ride roughshod over British inter-
ests in the east. Great Britain's protest
that the blockade of the Siamese coast
was illegal and her suggestion that in
reference with British commerce
would not be tolerated, were made
with such unqualified plainness that
the French ministers were sobered at
once and conceded the justness of the
British contention.
There seems little doubt that a pa
cific settlement will be accomplished
shortly. That such is the case is at
tributed no less to Great Britain's atti-
tude than to Slams surrender. The
territorial arrangements between
France and Siam are not likely to cause
any appreciable difficulty. They will
be simply matter of diplomatic agree
ment. Among the several suggestions
of compromise the most plausible one
is that France nominally, in gracious
ness to Siam, but really in respect to
British intervention, leaves to Siam the
territory north of the eighteenth par
alleL
The burden of the compromise will
be found by the French government in
persuading the French voters at the
n