The Feilding Star. Published Daily. WEDNESDAY,'AUGUST 2, 1893. The Siamese Trouble

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 28, 2 August 1893, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, 'AUGUST 2, 1893. The Siamese Trouble

Recent cablegrams on the subject of the difficulty between France and Siam, and the relationship of England thereto, are somewhat reassuring. It will be remembered that the import of the first news we received was to the effect that all the energy of attack was on the side of the French, while, on the other hand, the English were lethargic and indifferent to the interests of British subjects resident in Siam. We are much pleased to find that the contrary has been the case, and that while the French were blustering, after the manner of there kind, the English authorities were quietly and unostentatiously taking all the precautionary measures neccessary to prevent the smallest encroachment on the rights of the nation. While the French Cabinet were in a state of utter disunion on the question of peace or war, the English Cabinet were acting unitedly, and to compel France to understand the utter folly of provoking an European war, and had succeeded in securin the assistance of Germany to preserve the peace. In order that our Indian possessions should be guarded, the War Office has summoned Lord Roberts to England, bo that by having the advice and council of the man in whom the army has the greatest confidence, aud to whom the nation could intrust the supreme command with the perfect knowledge that his past victories could be accepted as assurances of equal success from good generalship iv the future. The fleet has not been reinforced to any marked extent, for the very sufficient reason that the gunboats already in the Gulf of Siam are strong enough iv men and guns to blow the French fleet out of the water in twenty minutes. The blockade, of which we have heard so much, in a mere farce as far as English trading vessels are concerned. England, as soon as the point was mooted, refused to recognise it, and warned France the latter would be held responsible if such blockade were enforced against British ships. At once our bouncible friend accepted the inevitable, and agreed to exempt British ships. As the latter comprise the most of the tonnage, the alleged blockade is therefore neither more nor less than a farce. Of course the French press are rampant and, with the inflation for which they arc distinguished, " demaud that the Government should show extreme firmness towards England." Just so. We are much pleased to see that our American cousins support England in her determination to repel any advances of the French into our Indian territory. It would appear, then, that no matter what political party may be in authority in England, or what dissensions may rage on the floor of the House of Commons, yet tho colonial interests of the nation are to be protected at all hazards.