Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President, Transmitted to Congress, December 4, 1893
Mr. Boyd to Mr. Gresham.
Bangkok, July 26, 1893. (Received September 7.)
Sir: I have the honor to now inclose a copy of the French ultimatum to the Siamese Government and the latter’s reply thereto.
The French minister, after placing the French subjects under the protection of the Netherlands representative and notifying the representatives of the foreign powers resident in Bangkok, left yesterday on board a French gunboat, followed by the two other gunboats that had so recently fought their way into the city.
I have, etc.,
Vice-Consul-General.
M. Pavie to Prince Devawongse.
Mr. Minister: I am ordered by my Government to hand to your Royal Highness the following communication:
The French Government exact—
- First. The acknowledgment by the King of Siam of the rights of the Empire of Annam, and of the Kingdom of Cambodia, on the left bank of the Mekong and on the islands.
- Second. The withdrawal of the Siamese posts established on the left bank of the Mekong, in a delay which will not exceed one month.
- Third. The satisfaction which is due for the incidents of Thung Xieng Kham, Khani Muan, and the aggression committed against our ships and our sailors in the river Menam.
- Fourth. The punishment of the culprits and the pecuniary indemnity due to the families of the victims.
- Fifth. An indemnity of 2,000,000 francs for the various damages caused to our countrymen.
- Sixth. The immediate deposit of a sum of 3,000,000 francs in dollars to guarantee the pecuniary reparation and this indemnity, or in default of this deposit the remittance as a pawn of the collection of the farms or taxes, or income of the provinces of Battambong and Siemraph.
The Siamese Government must inform in a delay of forty-eight hours if they accept these conditions; in this case, it will be stated by an exchange of letters between Prince Devawongse and the French minister, in default of an answer, or in case of refusal, at the expiration of the delay the minister of France will leave Bangkok and will go on board the Forfait.
The blockade will immediately be declared on the coasts of Siam.
If during the way from Bangkok to the bar a hostile act is committed against our gunboats the Siamese Government are notified that they expose themselves to reprisal.
Accept, etc.,
Prince Devawongse to M. Pavie.
Mr. Minister: In reply to communication which, by order of your Government, you handed to me on Thursday, the 20th instant, at a quarter to 7 o’clock in the evening, I am instructed by His Majesty, the King, my august master, to make the following declaration:
- First. His Majesty regrets that no distinct definition was ever given to him of what he is to understand by the “rights” of the Empire of Annam and of the Kingdom [Page 555] of Cambodia, on the left bank of the Mekong, and on the islands. He always was prepared to abandon any territory to which such rights should be proved, and already five months ago he proposed to defer any contested points to international arbitration. Now, however, he submits to the pressure of circumstances, and in order to restore peace to his people, and security to the numerous trading interests engaged in this country, he consents that, in the delimitation of the frontier between Siam and Ann am or Cambodia, the whole territory on the left bank of the Mekong, situated south of a line drawn from the most northern Siamese military post, recently occupied by Franco-Annamite troops, to a point situated at the same latitude, say 18 degrees of northern latitude on the left bank of the Mekong, will be considered as Annamite or Cambodian territory, the river below this point being made the dividing line between the neighboring States.
- Second. The Siamese military posts still existing in the aforesaid territory will be evacuated within one month.
- Third. His Majesty sincerely deplores the loss of lives which on both sides was the consequence of the incidents of Thung Kieng Kham, of Khannam (Kengchek) and of the fatal collision which occurred at the entrance of the Menam. The Bangbion will be released and other satisfaction will be given if necessary, as far as they are compatible with ordinary justice and with the independence of the Siamese Government which the French Government has declared it will respect.
- Fourth. The persons found guilty of individual aggression contrary to national or international law against French subjects, condignly punished and any pecuniary reparation due will be given to the families of the victims.
- Fifth. A long correspondence was exchanged between us relating to certain claims made by French subjects for damages which they allege to have suffered by the fault of Siamese officials. I contended in the name of the Siamese Government that no damages were due, because we considered there was no fault on the part of the Siamese officials. Now His Majesty, guided by the same consideration as aforesaid, consents not to insist on the question of principle, and to pay to the Government of the French Republic a sum of two millions of francs to cover the amount of damages which my be found to have been really suffered in all or any of the above-mentioned cases. The Siamese Government would suggest, without making it a condition therefor, that the appreciation of these amounts and of the pecuniary reparation whereof question in the fourth paragraph might be deferred to a joint commission.
- Sixth. An immediate deposit of three millions of francs, in dollars, as a guarantee for the aforesaid pecuniary reparation and for the indemnity, will be made concurrently with the exchange of notes between us.
His Majesty’s Government having reason to believe that the estimate of three millions of francs considerably exceeds the amount of pecuniary reparation and indemnity which may be found due after full inquiry, trusts in the justice of the French Government, or the returning of such part of the deposited money which may remain after a full settlement of all cases.
His Majesty’s Government trusts that the compliance with the demands of the French Government resulting from the foregoing declarations will be considered as proving their sincere desire of living in good and friendly terms with the French Republic, and of settling in a complete and definite manner all questions pending between the two governments.
Accept, etc.,