HC Deb 12 June 1893 vol 13 cc787-8
SIR R. TEMPLE (Surrey, Kingston)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have, within the last few days, any information which they can communicate to the House regarding the movements of the French on the River Mekong, or in the eastern districts of the Siamese Kingdom?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS(Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, Berwick

The only recent information that has reached Her Majesty's Government has been that given by the French newspapers, as there are no British Agents at or near the localities affected. According to the Matin of June 3, the Siamese had evacuated the post of Cam-Mon, and the French had occupied Stung-Treng and Khong. The same paper announced, on the 7th instant, that Monsieur Delcassé, the Under Secretary of State of the French Colonial Office, bad received a telegram from the Governor General of Indo-China announcing that the Vice President, Monsieur Dubreuil, had arrived at the confluence of the Sebang-Hien and the Mekong, opposite to Kemmarat, and that the French had possessed themselves of all the posts occupied by the Siamese between Cam-lo and Kemmarat, from which the Siamese had retired to the right bank of the Mekong. But I must repeat that this intelligence comes to us entirely through the French Press, and that we have no direct information from Siam on the subject. Negotiations are still proceeding between the French and Siamese Governments with reference to the territory in dispute.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

May I ask whether there is any objection to laying on the Table of the House the Correspondence affecting Siam which has passed between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of France?

* SIR E. GREY

I believe I am correct in saying that no Correspondence has taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of France. But if any Correspondence had passed it could not be laid at this stage of the proceedings.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Might I ask whether any Correspondence that has taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the Siamese Government can be laid?

* SIR E. GREY

As I have said, negotiations are proceeding between the Siamese and the French Governments, and I cannot imagine anything more undesirable than to publish any Correspondence at this stage.