Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-07-27
BLOCKADE OF SIAM.
France Enforces It's Demands on
the Little Kingdom.
ENGLAND GREATLY DISTURBED BY IT.
War May Result American Interests Con.
nnod to = Few Missionaries, who
May he Safely Left to
Themselves.

BANGKOK, July 90. Nj. Pavie, French
minister resident, has lowered the flag
over his office and has notified the
Siamese government that he will leave
the city 10 go abroad the French war
ship lnconstante on Wednesday. lie
has requested the government TO pro
vide pilots TO conduct the Lutin and
Comete down the river French sub
jects In Bangkok will be placed under
the protection of the Dutch consul
PARIS, July 96,-The government has
notified the powers that II intended TO
establish u blockade OF the Siamese
coast, without prejudice TO the other
measures that may be taken with the
object Of securing 10 France the guar
antees TO which she is entitled. A ooun-
ell of the ministers will be held to-day
to decide what additional measures
shall be taken to insure the obtaining
of guarantees from Siam.
France will seize and hold Battam-
bang and Angkora as guarantees that
her demands will be satisfied.
The Soir utters a threat that France
and Russia will combine TO put the
screw ON England, and says: 1.-THE
concordance between the Russian
movement In the Pamirs and that of
France in Slam has not been sufficient
ly remarked. II may be mentioned in
passing that Russia hides the nature OF
her advance in the Pamirs by calling IL
scientific expedition"
The Liberte says that the French
gunboats probably will 90 down the
river, she'll and destroy the Paknam
forts and then return to their positions
before Bangkok TO lombard the place.
Some painful measure is necessary,
adds this Journal, for the preservation
Of Frances prestige.
The Debats says that Siam, as a rice
producing country, probably does not
greatly fear the blockade. As for the
operations on land, the Debats thinks
the siamese will be provided surrepti-
tiously by England with all the arms
they need. The majority of the Paris
newspapers devote as much space TO
denunciations OF England as 10 the
matter ut issue between France and
Siam. England Is reproached by them
with supporting the Siamese in their
opposition to Frances Just demands
and with planning TO give the Siamese
secret aid when hostilities begin.
The extreme conservative and radical
newspapers alone abstain from discuss
ing the situation. They are holding
back so as 70 denounce the government
In case the Siamese venture proves n
fizzle. A dispatch from Rome says that
Italy has asked England TO protect
Italian subjects In Siam.
ESoLisu VIEWS
LONDON, July GA dispatch from
Paris to news agency states that the
blockade OF the Siamese coast will be-
come effective ON Thursday or Friday
next
The Franco-Siamese complications
have been the one absorbing topic In
the house OF commons to-day. The
situation is regarded with apprehen-
hlon by all parties and latest news from
Bangkok and Paris Is read with as
much anxiety as eagerness ON all
sides regret II expressed that the Brit
ish war-ships in Siamese waters were
not reinforced month ago, ar the
British interests In Siam outnumber
the French hundred 10 one.
A council of ministers was summoned
AT the instance Of Lord Roseberry, sec
rotary Of state for foreign affairs TO
meet in the prime minister's room OF
the house of commons The only sub
ject discussed was the situation at
Bangkok.
The Times says editorially: En-.
glands main objection In the matter il
against making British and French
possessions in Asia conterminous. II
she so desired she might warn France
of the dangers she Is running by re-
minding her of the Tonquin hasco.
The Daily News comments at length
on the opinion prevalent In the German
press that a squabble between France
and England over Slam would be of adj
vantage TO Germany, and expresses the
belief that such Il squabble would
afford n rest 10 the historic fire-eater ON
both sides of the Vosges.
THE AMERICAN INTERESTS
WAsmNGToN, July %. So far as the
state department Is informed there are
no American citizens residing in Siam
except about score OF missionaries.
II Is not believed 10 be necessary TO
take any special measures for their
protection. The United States has
no diplomatic representative In
Siam, and the consul.general at
Bangkok, Mr.. Royal, is in this
country at present, leaving the
Office in charge of his son, the vice con
sui II the welfare of our missionaries
should he threatened, which is I'M
likely, they can without doubt secure
protection upon application Ia the min
lister Of some other nation, a. will he
the case with the French residents.
The commercial interests Of the United
states in Siam are insignificant, the cX-
ports being very few and the imports
being made up Of teak wood, used IN
p-buildinR, and some triiles Of ORR
entail and Malaynesian decorative work.
The ROYAL Maniac.