SIR E. ASIIMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether two French gunboats, on Thursday night, 13th July, passed up the Menam River after nightfall, and anchored opposite Bangkok; whether a cannonade took place between the French gunboats and the forts, accompanied by loss of life; whether the Siamese Government was in receipt, at the time, of pacific assurances from the French Minister at Bangkok; whether the Treaty of 1856 distinctly requires that arrangements shall be made with the Siamese Government before French warships can ascend the Menam; whether the British Government had prior notification of this movement of the French ships of war; whether, in 1891, out of 307 vessels with a tonnage of 220,786 tons entering the Port of Bangkok, 259 vessels with a tonnage of 193,260 tons were British; and whether, out of 310 vessels with a tonnage of 224,248 tons clearing the Port of Bangkok, 260 vessels with a tonnage of 194,437 tons were British; whether the French gunboats are still anchored opposite Bangkok; and whether an ultimatum has been sent by France to the Siamese Government; and, if so, what are its terms?
MR. CURZON (Lancashire, Southport)At the same time I will ask the hon. Baronet the question which I put to him yesterday, and at his request postponed until to-day.
§ MR. ATHERLEY-JONES (Durham, N.W.)And, at the same time, may I ask whether, in view of recent events in Siam, and having regard to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce entered into between Great Britain and the Kingdom of Siam in 1855, and the Treaty of Amity 85 and Commerce entered into between France and Siam in the same year, and especially the 15th Article of the last-named Treaty, wherein it is provided that French ships of war may not ascend the river towards the City of Bangkok beyond Paknam without the leave of the Siamese Government, the Government have received, or are taking steps to secure, assurances from the French Government that the terms of the last-named Treaty shall in the future be respected and the independence of the Kingdom of Siam maintained; and whether he is in a position, now or at an early date, to lay any Papers relating to the present position in Siam upon the Table of the House?
§ * SIR E. GREYThe information that two French gunboats ascended the Menam to Bangkok on the evening of Thursday the 13th, after an interchange of shots between them and the Siamese forts, attended with loss of life, is undoubtedly correct. As to the circumstances under which the encounter took place the evidence is conflicting. It is believed that assurances had previously been given by the French Minister at Bangkok to the Siamese Government that the gunboats would remain outside the bar. It is asserted, on the other hand, that the French gunboats, while still outside the bar, were subjected to an unprovoked fire from the forts, and that this led to the subsequent events. The information in the possession of Her Majesty's Government is not sufficient to enable them to come to any positive conclusion as to the merits of the question. Article XV. of the French Treaty with Siam of 1856 provides that French ships of war shall be allowed to enter the Menam and anchor at Paknam; but that, in order to ascend as far as Bangkok, they must give notice to the Siamese Authority, and arrange with it as to the spot where they shall anchor. Her Majesty's Government had no prior notification of this movement of the French gunboats. They were informed by the French Government that these two vessels would remain outside the bar, and they can entertain no doubt that such was the intention of the French Government. The statistics of British trade with the Port of Bangkok quoted by the hon. Member are taken from the Trade Report of the Acting British 86 Consul General there, and are believed to be correct. The French gunboats are still anchored opposite Bangkok. There are in all three French and two British gunboats there. It is understood that an ultimatum has been sent by the French Government to that of Siam. Her Majesty's Government are not in a position to make any announcement of its terms. But they are making inquiries on the subject, and as soon as they are able to do so they will give information to the House. I may add that the only part of the ultimatum which concerns Her Majesty's Government is that relating to territorial arrangements, and that they have determined at once to send Lord Dufferin to Paris to exchange views in an amicable spirit with regard to certain points which seem to require elucidation.