On Wednesday, MA Curzon made one of the items of
the Foreign Office vote the occasion for reviewing the policy of the Government in regard to Siam. The Government had declared that it was necessary to maintain the independence and integrity of Siam ; but the demands of the French put Siam in jeopardy. "He did not wish to enter into specula- lations as to the future, but he ventured to express a hope that the Government would take steps to procure a guarantee or assurance from the French Government that no further encroachments would be attempted by them upon the in- tegrity and independence of Siam. Unfortunately, the examination of the ultimatum in its final form' suggested sources of almost certain friction and certain danger." Sir Edward Grey, in reply, declared that "when the papers are laid upon the table, it will be found that her Majesty's Government have been quite strong and emphatic enough." By insisting that there should be a substantial " buffer" State between Burmah and French Indo-China, the Government had done all that was necessary for them to do in the interests of the United Kingdom. If the two Governments were not hampered by outside interference, a really satisfactory arrange. ment would ultimately be come to. Mr. Balfour practically confined his intervention in the debate to a hope that the Government " will not, either in the negotiations now going on, or in any future arrangements, lose sight of the great embarrassments and difficulties which must ensue if the ulti- mate result of what has (marred should be the absorption of the kingdom of Siam in any other foreign State, however friendly." As leader of the Opposition, be could hardly have said less. We suspect, however, that he is not really dis- satisfied with the course of events.
