We print elsewhere an account, which we have every reason
to believe accurate, of the negotiations between France and Siam under which France is endeavouring to acquire another province. Those negotiations derive their importance for us from the fact that France is always intent on building up an Info-Chinese Empire, which would, French statesmen think, pay for itself, and serve as a counterpoise to British influence in Southern Asia. It was because France was threatening Northern Burmah that we were compelled to annex that country. France is welcome to expand as much as she can, but in choosing the Malay States under Siamese protection she is running a serious risk. She is whittling away Siam, and we could not allow Siam to be either conquered or to be reduced to negligible dimensions. The danger of our Indian position, with Russia on the north-west and France on the south-east, would be too great, even if it only produced recurrent panics in India. Siam must be maintained as a buffer State if constant quarrels with France are to be avoided, and it cannot be maintained if its dependencies are gradually torn away. We have little doubt that Lord Lans- downe has already turned his attention to the facts, and as little that M. Delcasie, who is the most sensible of mankind, will see the expediency of moderating the zeal of his Indo- Chinese agents. Lord Curzon has already done his part in refusing to sanction any grand trunk line between India and Burmah, the feeders of which might one day threaten Siam.
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