FOREIGN TELEGRAMS.
London, July 20.
China is preparing to
back Siam in her dispute with France, and is disposed to render her
material assistance.
La Figaro publishes an interview with Sir Charles Dilke on the Franco Siamese question. Sir
Charles stated, in reply to his interviewer, that he fore-saw no difficulty
between France and Great Britain in regard to Siam, unless the annexation of
Siam were attempted by France. He feared, however, that the Newfoundland
fisheries question would give rise to grave complications.
Mr. George Curson, Parliamentary Secretary to the India Office in
Lord Salisbury's last Administration, has written a letter to the Times on the
Siamese question. He says that if the claim of France to the entire left bank
of the Mekong River is allowed it will deprive Siam of half her territory and
place the French on the Upper Mekong into junta-position with the
British protected Shan States.
He insists also that France
cannot thus be allowed to close the door to British trade with South-western
China.
The Marquis of Dufferin, British Ambassador to France, has returned to
Paris, in order to conduct negotiations in regard to the Siam embroglie.
London, Jaly 21.
The Siamese Court is
preparing to leave Bangkok.
Reinforcements of
Siamese troops are being sent to the Province of Battambang.
The answer to the French
ultimatum is expected to reach Paris on Sunday.
Sir Edward Grey, Parliamentary Under-secretary for Foreign
Affairs, states that the only part of the French ultimatum concerning Great
Britain, relates to the cession of Siamese territory.
The Marquis of Dufferin has been seat to Paris in order to exchange
amicable views with the French Government on the points at issue.
London, July 21.
The Siamese have out the
telegraph wires connecting Bangkok with Saigon, the capital of French Cochin
China.
London, July 23.
France has refused the
request of Siam for an extension of time in which to reply to the French
ultimatum.
The French demands
embrace the cession of 95,000 square miles of territory, including a
province which Burmah ceded to Siam on condition that it was never ceded
to any other power.
They also comprise the
cession of 50,000 square miles of territory in the North-east of Siam where the
French have never advanced, and the indemnity, previously claimed, of 200,000
francs (£8,000)
It is believed that the
French attack on Siam is really directly against England. It is probable that
Siam will pay the indemnity demanded, but will resist the surrender of
territory.
The Siamese Government
is seeking advice from the British Government as to what course to adopt in
regard to the French demands.
Five hundred men of the
French Legion, a body of troops specially raised for foreign service, are
proceeding to Siam.
Germany is sending two
warships to Siam.
The Standard and many
other papers declare that Great Britain cannot assent to the French territorial
claims on Siam.
These would, if
permitted, deprive Siam of all utility as an independent State.
In response to orders
received from the Cabinet, Vice-Admiral Sir E. R.Fremsatle, Commander in Chief
of the China squadron, is hastening to Singapore. He is bringing with him the
greater part of the vessels under his command.
The French consider the
return of the Marquis of Dufferin to Paris is a pledge of peace, and that it
will help to remove the difficulties with regard to Siam.
On Wednesday the French
captured the remaining forts of the Kong group. The town, however, still
holds out; in the engagement 800 Siamese were killed, and a hundred were
wounded.
London, July 23.
The reply of Siam to the
French ultimatum has reached Paris. It is, however, being kept secret by the
French
Grovernment.
London, July 24,
A Reuter's telegram from
Bangkok states tjat Siam's reply to the French ultimatum concedes all the
territory on the left bank of the Mekong river, including the Strungtreng and
Khange.
It also agrees to
deposit 3,000,000 francs as security for the payment of the
indemnities. It is hoped that this offer will form the basis of a
settlement with France.
In reply to the French
ultimatum Siam has offered to concede the left bank of the Mekong River only,
below latitude 18. She refuses the demand of France to fix the
limit at the 23rd degree.
This morning's Daily Telegraph states that the French Minister at Bangkok has
received instructions to leave the city, as the reply to the ultimatum is
regarded as unsatisfactory.
In his reply to the
French ultimatum the King of Siam undertakes to evacuate the region ceded to
France, within a month. He also declares that he only submits to the
pressure of circumstances. Five months ago he offered to submit the whole
matter in dispute to arbitration.
He wishes that a mixed
Commission be appointed to discuss the amount of the damage sustained by the
French. He also expresses regret for the losses inflicted on the French.
France refused to
extend the time given to Siam for a reply to the ultimatum, the object
being to prevent Siam negotiating with Great Britain.
It is believes that Siam
hopes to exhaust the coal on the French gunboat, and that she will then adopt a
more defiant attitude.
The Siamese
warships are crowded and soldiers are alongside ready to run on
beard, in the event of hostilities being declared.
A German gunboat has
arrived off Bangkok.
This morning's Daily New
says that France has notified her intention of blockading Bangkok.
Russia is pressing Siam
to cede Junkseylon to her, in order that she may use it as a naval depot.
In Paris Siam's
reply to the ultimatums regarded as unsatisfactory, especially that part
dealing with the cession of
territory.
M. Pavie, the French
Minister at Bangkok, has received orders to leave Bangkok within 24 hours.
The French press declare
that Great Britain has influenced Siam's attitude. They express surprise that
French cannon are not now thundering at Bangkok.
London, July 24.
France has formally
intimated to all the Foreign Powers her intention of blockading the
Siamese ports.
The Pall Mall Gazette
warns France that the English gunboats in the Menam River are able to blow the
French vessels out of the water.
London, July 25.
The French citizens in
Siam have been placed under the protection of the Dutch consul.
M. Pavie, the French Minister at Siam, has requested the
pilots to take the gunboats out of the Menam River. The
gunboats are suspected
of lingering there on pretence of waiting for the monsoon, their real object
being to enable the ironclad flagship Triomphante, and the rest of the Asiatic
squadron to arrive.
[France has in Cochin
China the gunboats Estoc, Luting Cimeterre,
Alouette, Oaronade,Jacquin, Mouton, Mutine and Lion besides the hulk Adou, close at hand
are the Triomphante (flagship), the despatch-vessel Inconstant, the cruiser Forfait, and the gun-boat Comete.]
A second detachment of
the French Foreign Legion has been despatched to Cochin China, so as to be
ready for action in the event of hostilities with Siam.
The blockade of the
Siamese ports begins on Thursday.
There are 12,000 armed
Siamese at Bangkok.
It is believed that
France intends to occupy the provinces of Battaubang and Anghor.
The French press aee
urging the shelling of the King of Siam's palace at Bangkok.
The British residents at
Bangkok are intensely irritated at the seeming apathy of the Imperial
Government.
The Marquis of Dufferin, British Ambassador at Paris, has had an
interview with M. Develle, the French Foreign Minister. M.
Develle declined to allow any
third party to Interfere in the dispute between France and Siam.
London, July 25.
Siam has invited a
fuller statement from France with regard to the boundary claims based on
the possession by France of Annam and Cambodia.
Siam has consented
to allow the French gunboats to be piloted out of the Menam River.
The French Chamber of
Deputies has been prorogued in view of the eletions.
The foreign Powers have
refused to recognise the blockade of the Siamese ports by France, until the two
French Chamber of Deputies have declared war with Siam.
London, July 26.
The French gunboats in
the Menam River are armed with 700 meliuite shells.
The foreign gunboats
stationed in the Menam River are landing parties of sailors with the object of
preventing the dangerous classes looting the city.
The French Press sharply
criticise the policy of blockading the Siamese perls ,and declare that much
more decisive action ought to be taken,
A number of leading
London merchants have forwarded a circular letter to Lord Rosebery,
protesting against the injury lo British trade which must result if the
French claims in Siam are admitte.
There are indications in
the Government organs that Lord Rosebery will met seriously contest the French
claims in regard to Siam.
The Chinese Government
is astonished at the French demands on Siam. It points out that both the
banks of the River Mekong belong to China mach further south than the 23rd
degree.
A section of the
French press declare that the Marquis of Dufferin, British Ambassador at Paris, shows
unmistakeable signs of supporting Siam, and that he is meeting France with
insulting demands and vilifications.
The Journal des Débats recognises that it will be better for France to
confine her claims to the territory through which the middle and the lower
Mekong rans, and thus avoid the difficulty which she would encounter with China
and England, if the claimed the valley of the Upper Mekong.
Admiral Humann, the Commander-in-Chief of the French Asiatic squadron, has
sailed from Saigon to the Menam River. He will blockade the river with
eight vessels.
M. Pavie, the French Minister to Siam, has left the
Menam River. He is accompanied by three gunboats.
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