A false report that the British had occupied the Malay
State of Kelantan, now under Siamese protection, has caused great disturbance in Paris.—In a subsequent note the Haves Agency sticks to the story of the three hundred Sikhs, but odds: "The British assert that the soldiers occupying Kelantan do not belong to their Army, and have only been summoned to furnish a personal guard for the Sultan."—It is admitted that all the Malay States are by the Treaty of January, 1896. within the British " sphere of influence " ; but it is argued that in seizing it, and, indeed, in her whole bear- ing towards Siam, Great Britain assumes an attitude which threatens that State, and incidentally Indo-China. France does not seek to annex Siam, but only claims a condo- minium, with Great Britain over that country. We need not say that we are seeking no territory in Siam ; but it is not so clear that France is not. She would like very much to increase the importance of Indo-China, and is even now demandingthe cession of a Siamese province. The Government, remembering French intrigues in Burmah, is jealous of this idea, and were not the nations so bent on peace and so afraid of European complications, a diplomatic contest might ripen into a very serious quarrel. At present we think M. Delcasse and Lord Lansdowne will agree to a passive policy "reserving all rights."
