Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31
A BONE OF CONTENTION
France and England Have Dis
puted Over Siam.
CUT UP HER TERRITORY
Abolition of Gambling Depends on
the Powers Consent.
THE BUILDING OF RAILWAYS
Necessity of Adopting Western Meth
DDS of Civilization Recognized
by the King.
CUT UP HER TERRITORY
THE BUILDING OF RAILWAYS
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM T. tJRllS
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
Mr.. w. S. Kerr of the firm of Redmond
Kerr & Co., bankers, of New York city,
has abandoned active business and is now
spending his time studying international
politics on the spot. He Is visiting the
nations that are least known, looking into
their customs, investigating their systems
of administration and their foreign rela-
lions. He is writing a book on the Asiatic
countries which furnish field of absorb
Ing interest because the greatest gain OF
international diplomacy and intrigue Is
going on in that part of the world. and is
getting his material on the ground from
the men who are acting the leading parts
Siam, he says, is one of the most inter-
esting of all countries, and is unique from
a political standpoint because it possesses
several unusual features:
l. 1t is an absolute despotism governed
by a liberal and benevolent despot.
2. 1t is the only tropical country of the
east which is still independent
3. 1t is the only country in which Bud
dhism is the established religion and the
king is recognized as the defender of the
faith.
A. Siam realizes from the experience of
Japan the necessity of adopting western
civilization.
future a bone of contention between at
least two and possibly three, European
powers.
Aims of Louis XIV.
"The Siamese people, of which it Is
calculated there are about six and three
quarter millions" continued Mr.. Kerr,
"are a mixture of Indians, Malays and
Chinese. The Indo- Malaynesians migrated
to the valley of the Menam river during
frnr Hon On
province made inroads upon their terri
tory from time to time, coming to conquer
and remaining to dwell and intermarry
with the Hindu and Malay families. Very
little Is known about the ancient history
Of Siam, although an effort is now being
made to acquire the facts by extensive ex-
cavatons in the ruins of the city of
Ayuthia the ancient capital. Many in
scriptions found there upon monuments
and tablets are now being deciphered and
will doubtless contribute considerable
knowledge.
I'm the time of Louis XIV a Jesuit mis-
sionary visited Siam. Upon his return to
France he told a marvellous story, which
inspired the grand monarque with an ambi-
ton to add to his glory by securing posses
sons in the east and to his sanctity by
making a royal convert to the Christian
faith. With these ends in view Louis XIV
sent missions to Siam, which were received
with great honor. The King of Siam sent
embassies to repay the visit, and they were
entertained sumptuously in Paris French
Catholic priests settled in various parts of
Siam, but 1t soon became apparent that
their efforts toward PROSECUTING would end
In failure. Hence the other branch of the
ambition of Louis XlV-to gain possession
in the east-became the dominating factor
in the relations between the two countries.
Several peaceful efforts were made at in
tervals by the French to secure a foothold
on Samese territory, but they all failed.
Finally the grand monarque sent an ambas-
sadOr, accompanied by an escort of troops.
who landed and proceeded to the capital of
Slam, but after a short time was forced to
withdraw.
Centuries have passed without accom-
plishing the purpose of Louis XIV, but the
determination to obtain possession of Siam
has never been abandoned by the French
nation, and France. having been successful
in her wars with China and having gained
foothold in Cochin-China, has gradually
extended her boundary lines until her au-
thority is now recognized in AMMAN and
Tonquin. In 1863 she succeeded in making
a treaty with Cambodia, a province which
had been under the domination of Siam
for several generations. Then France
claimed large tract of Siamese territory
as the inheritance of the Cambodans.
In 1924" said Mr.. Kerr, England made
a treaty with the Dutch, who then con-
trOlled the southern end of the Malay pen
insula. and obtained possession of what is
now known as the federated Malay states.
That brought England into contact with
Siam on the south. In 1856 England con-
quered Burma, which brought her into con-
l..
Burma claimed control of the Shan states
which lay to the north of Siam. The French
disputed this and wanted to establish their
outpOsts on the Mecong river. This brought
England and France nearly to war. If you
will examine the map you will understand
the gravity of those pretensions more
clearly.
French Aggressions.
I'm the controversy between Slam and
the French over the territory On the Me
cong river the former government desired
TO submit the matter to arbitration France
would not agree to this, and kept gradually
moving her troops into the disputed dis
tricts until an unfortunate incident resulted
in the death of a French official and several
Siamese. This gave France the pretext she
had been wishing for and a war fleet was
land had already been exerted in favor OF
Siam. with the object of maintaining her
- buffer state between the English and
rench colonial possessions. Naturally
Siam looked to England for defense and
support against the Entertainments OF
France. but England was unwilling to fight
and Siam received only advice to yield L
every new and increasing demand. On the
arrival of the French fleet the Siamese who
were ill-advised. endeavored to prevent the
gunboats from going UP the river, because
their invasion was violation OF her trea-
ttes with the powers, and, unfortunately
they fired on the French. The Siamest
forts were soon silenced. The gunboats
proceeded TO Bangkok and took possession
of the capital They landed troops at Chau
tabun and commenced negotiations In
which Siam was compelled to yield all the
disputed territory and establish a neutral
zone twenty-five kilometers wide and pay
an indemnity of 100000 francs
That was in 1893. In 1896 England and
France made a treaty defining a neutral