§ * LORD LAMINGTONsaid, he wished to ask a question with reference to the boundaries formed by the new Franco-Chinese Treaty, whether they affected the territory of Kaing Kheng or the territory of Kaing Houng, which England agreed to yield to China a year or two ago on the stipulation that if we waived our suzerainty China should not hand it over to any other European Power. The French papers said that we had no rights over the State of Kaing Kheng. That was opposed to historical accuracy, as the French travellers Garnier and Carmé bore witness ten or fifteen years ago that this State was a tributary to Ava at that time, and when we acquired Upper Burma we also acquired suzerainty over this State. This matter was of very great importance, in view of a possible future trade route through Burma to Southern China. He hoped that he might receive a satisfactory assurance that this State was not included in, or likely to become part of, French territory as a State lying on the eastern or left bank of the Mekong.
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (the MARQUESS of SALISBURY, Prime Minister)It would 1230 be very dangerous to give any pledges with respect to future policy affecting a country of which we know so little as Kiang Kheng. Kiang Kheng was tributary to Burma, and as such belongs to the British Crown. But there is a certain amount of controversy concerning it with the French Government, as there is with respect to sundry other localities in that country. But what the precise value of Kiang Kheng is, whether it is as important as my noble Friend says it is, whether it is the site of a future railway or not, are questions on which we should be sorry to pledge ourselves. Negotiations are going on with the French Government upon all these questions concerning both banks of the Mekong, and it would obviously be undesirable that I should enter into a discussion of matters which are now under examination by both Governments. Both in China, and I think to some extent in France, there has been a tendency to underrate the claims and rights of her Majesty's Government, but we are approaching the discussion of all these questions in the friendliest spirit, and I have no doubt we shall find an issue which will be satisfactory to both Governments.
§ * LORD LAMINGTONthanked the noble Marquess for his answer. He hoped that the question of the 25-kilomètre zone was included in the discussion of the questions affecting the territories bordering on the Mekong. If they could get rid of that reserved zone of 25 kilomètres, they would thereby conduce to tranquillity between Siam and France, and they might also secure the independence of Siam in the future. At present he understood, from the reports which he received, that the zone was a constant source of irritation to Siam, and afforded pretexts for petty acts of oppression on the part of French officials. The Government of France might have a perfectly earnest desire to preserve the autonomy of the Siamese kingdom, but their commercial agents in the East were not always easy to control. If an arrangement could be made under which this 25-kilomètre zone would be done away with and Siam secured in her perfect and undisputed rights right up to the Mekong River, it would conduce to the peace of Siam, this country, and France.