Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

lives and British trade (which formed ninety per cent. of the total amount), in view of the rumours that the French, who had already occupied one or two islands in the Gulf, were going to send a squadron to Bangkok and close the port. One of the chief dangers to be guarded against under the circumstances, they said, was rioting on the part of the lower classes of the Chinese population, which would greatly endanger the lives and property of foreign residents. Instructions were therefore sent on June 28th to the Commander-in-Chief of the British naval forces on the China station to send a second ship to Bangkok, and to hold a third in readiness to proceed there should her presence be required. Accordingly, a few days later, the Pallas was despatched from Singapore. An explanation was given to the French Government, who had shown a tendency to resent this action on the part of the British, that it was necessitated by the possibility of a native rising caused by the approach of the French; such a rising would endanger life and property and prejudice British commercial interests, which were dominant in Siam. At the same time, assurances were given that the British Government were urging the Siamese to come to a friendly understanding with France, and were ready to take any steps to contribute to that result. On their side, the French undertook that any further movements of their fleet would at once be intimated to Her Majesty's Government.

Early in July M. Pavie, the French Minister, notified the Siamese Government, that it had been decided to send two more French gunboats to Siamese waters, in addition to the Lutin (which was anchored off the French Legation), for the protection of French subjects during the present state of uncertainty. The reason given was that the British Government had ordered several ships to proceed for this object, and that the French Government were only following the example initiated by other Powers. The vessels were expected to arrive at the bar on the 13th July, and a request was forwarded from the French admiral that arrangements might be made for supplying them with pilots, and that they might be permitted to proceed to Bangkok according to what he considered to be a right under the treaties. The Siamese answered that they had received no notice that the British Government intended to send ships to Bangkok or any other point on the Menam, in addition to the Swift, which lay off the British Legation, just as the Lutin was anchored off the French Legation, and they protested against the claim that any foreign Power could, as a matter of absolute right, send as many ships as it thought fit to Bangkok. Siam, they argued, would thereby be deprived of her natural right to protect herself, and if she were to accept such an interpretation of the treaties, she would abdicate her right to maintain

her own independence. Under the Treaty of 18561 French men-of-war are entitled to enter the river and anchor at Paknam; should they want to proceed to Bangkok, they must inform the Siamese authorities and arrange with them as to the place where they may anchor. Under this clause France was entitled to send as many ships as she pleased as far as Paknam. Before they could proceed further, she was bound to inform the Siamese and make arrangements with them as to the anchorage. Whether in the event of a refusal on the part of the Siamese she had any further power is not quite clear from the wording of the article. But it is not likely, as the Siamese urged, that they intended to allow any number of foreign ships to come up to their capital simply on giving notice, for such notice would prove an unmeaning formality. This interpretation, too, is borne out by the article 2 in the British Treaty of 1855, which does not permit British ships to proceed beyond Paknam except with the consent of the Siamese authorities.

Be this as it may, the Siamese were promptly informed by M. Pavie that the French gunboat Inconstant would go up in spite of opposition, and their reply was to commence closing up the mouth of the river. Lord Rosebery reminded the French of their promise to keep our Government informed of the movements of their fleet, and pointed out that the two additional British ships from Singapore Treaty of 1856, Article 15. 2 Article 7.

[ocr errors]

were instructed to remain outside the bar at the mouth of the river; therefore the reported intention of the French admiral to force his way up to Bangkok could not be based on any act of the British. The authorities in Paris were inclined to show moderation, and the Foreign Minister, M. Develle, in reply to Lord Rosebery's remonstrance, telegraphed that the ships already sent would remain outside the bar, and that the intention of sending others had been abandoned. On the very day, July 13th, that these assurances were given by the French Government, came the news that two French gunboats, the Inconstant and the Comète, had successfully passed the defences at the bar and were anchored off the French Legation at Bangkok. As Lord Rosebery at the time expressed it, there was no reason to doubt the good faith of M. Develle himself, but the French Government were drifting into a position of extreme gravity owing to the action of their officers, which appeared to be uncontrolled and irresponsible. On the morning of the 13th M. Pavie had informed the Siamese Government that the ships would be ordered to remain outside the bar, and it was reported by Captain Macleod, commanding the British ships off the bar, that the French naval commander had received a message with these instructions before entering the river. This was denied by the French; but even if Captain Macleod were mistaken, they were at any rate fully warned of the change of

[graphic][merged small]
« AnteriorContinua »