This morning the British Government was handed a note stating that Austro-Hungary, Prussia, Persia, the United States of America, the Confederate States of America and the Subline Porte intend to impose a blockade on our trade with immediate effect unless the British Government withdrew from Siam.
I have to tell you that the British Government has given no such undertaking, and has decided to impose its own blockade on those same parties. You can imagine what consternation this has caused me. The British Government has quite been unable to fathom the reasons behind this action.
The British Government had tried to resolve a peaceful and honourable settlement between France and ourselves and the Siamese, but the Siamese would have none of it. The Siamese had evidently made up their minds long in advance to reclaim the Sultanates of Kelantan, Tringganu, Kedah and Perlis in Malaya which were Siamese in the recent past.
Up to the very last it would have been possible to arrange a peaceful settlement. The British Government communicated to the Siamese a number of proposals which addressed the Siamese concerns which were professed in public. The French Empire supported these. Siam chose to ignore these proposals and without further communication mobilised its forces along those frontiers it shares with Britain.
The British Government had also sought the good offices of the United States between the Siamese ending negotiations and mobilising. The British Government assured the United States that it was keen to hear what the Siamese Government might be comfortable with accepting. This was undertaken in secret because it was in the interests of all parties to do so. The United States did not communicate any Siamese proposals to the British Government. In this outreach the French Government was a willing partner.
The British Government now knows that the United States abused its good offices by not communicating with Siam as it offered and in fact encouraged Siam to mobilise against us. The British Government makes no apologies for its response. The defence of British India, inclusive of Burma, and of the Sultanates of Kelantan, Tringganu, Kedah and Perlis is a requirement – not an option. New Delhi is as much sovereign British territory as Berlin is to Prussia. The bonds between Britain and the Malay Sultanates are as sacred as those between brothers.
The United States has further abused its position as a friend of Great Britain by organising against it a coalition which seeks to cut the sacred thread of commerce which unites the Empire and the Motherland. This is intolerable. That the parties arrayed against us are ridiculous is a given. But we must respond and we respond in force. To do nothing is to invite ridicule and accept that the British Government has no right to defend itself of its interests.
I announce that as of five o’clock this evening, Cabinet has been dissolved and a new Cabinet appointed drawing talent from Liberal and Conservative ranks. At six o’clock by unanimous ascent, and with the support of the Labour and the Irish Parliamentary Party the Cabinet has resolved to impose a blockade. In a special sitting called tonight Parliament as one gave three cheers of ‘Queen and Country!’ as the decision was made known to the houses.
At the same time, it was communicated to the houses that the French Government had reached out for an alliance and that the Cabinet had on consideration of the issues accepted.
The Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey and Colonial Secretary the Earl of Elgin spoke in favor noting the great strides that had been made towards healing the rift between our Governments.The status of Siam have been resolved, the crisis in Korea having been headed off, the good work in China, the Confederate withdrawal from Liberia, and so on.
The Secretary for War Richard Haldane and the First Lord of the Admiralty the Lord Tweedmouth spoke in favor. Indeed none spoke against. I have violated the usual rules of Cabinet to communicate this to you because the events of the last few days have been so extraordinary that had I not tested myself to see that I was awake I should think myself dreaming. My Cabinet colleagues concurred that this should be made public and so it has.
Parliament considered this announcement and roared back to the newly seated Cabinet its approval.
This Government has in the space of three days been obliged to declare war on Siam, been blockaded by Persia and the Sublime Porte among others and signed an alliance with France.
Extraordinary times indeed!
I have to tell you that the British Government has given no such undertaking, and has decided to impose its own blockade on those same parties. You can imagine what consternation this has caused me. The British Government has quite been unable to fathom the reasons behind this action.
The British Government had tried to resolve a peaceful and honourable settlement between France and ourselves and the Siamese, but the Siamese would have none of it. The Siamese had evidently made up their minds long in advance to reclaim the Sultanates of Kelantan, Tringganu, Kedah and Perlis in Malaya which were Siamese in the recent past.
Up to the very last it would have been possible to arrange a peaceful settlement. The British Government communicated to the Siamese a number of proposals which addressed the Siamese concerns which were professed in public. The French Empire supported these. Siam chose to ignore these proposals and without further communication mobilised its forces along those frontiers it shares with Britain.
The British Government had also sought the good offices of the United States between the Siamese ending negotiations and mobilising. The British Government assured the United States that it was keen to hear what the Siamese Government might be comfortable with accepting. This was undertaken in secret because it was in the interests of all parties to do so. The United States did not communicate any Siamese proposals to the British Government. In this outreach the French Government was a willing partner.
The British Government now knows that the United States abused its good offices by not communicating with Siam as it offered and in fact encouraged Siam to mobilise against us. The British Government makes no apologies for its response. The defence of British India, inclusive of Burma, and of the Sultanates of Kelantan, Tringganu, Kedah and Perlis is a requirement – not an option. New Delhi is as much sovereign British territory as Berlin is to Prussia. The bonds between Britain and the Malay Sultanates are as sacred as those between brothers.
The United States has further abused its position as a friend of Great Britain by organising against it a coalition which seeks to cut the sacred thread of commerce which unites the Empire and the Motherland. This is intolerable. That the parties arrayed against us are ridiculous is a given. But we must respond and we respond in force. To do nothing is to invite ridicule and accept that the British Government has no right to defend itself of its interests.
I announce that as of five o’clock this evening, Cabinet has been dissolved and a new Cabinet appointed drawing talent from Liberal and Conservative ranks. At six o’clock by unanimous ascent, and with the support of the Labour and the Irish Parliamentary Party the Cabinet has resolved to impose a blockade. In a special sitting called tonight Parliament as one gave three cheers of ‘Queen and Country!’ as the decision was made known to the houses.
At the same time, it was communicated to the houses that the French Government had reached out for an alliance and that the Cabinet had on consideration of the issues accepted.
The Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey and Colonial Secretary the Earl of Elgin spoke in favor noting the great strides that had been made towards healing the rift between our Governments.The status of Siam have been resolved, the crisis in Korea having been headed off, the good work in China, the Confederate withdrawal from Liberia, and so on.
The Secretary for War Richard Haldane and the First Lord of the Admiralty the Lord Tweedmouth spoke in favor. Indeed none spoke against. I have violated the usual rules of Cabinet to communicate this to you because the events of the last few days have been so extraordinary that had I not tested myself to see that I was awake I should think myself dreaming. My Cabinet colleagues concurred that this should be made public and so it has.
Parliament considered this announcement and roared back to the newly seated Cabinet its approval.
This Government has in the space of three days been obliged to declare war on Siam, been blockaded by Persia and the Sublime Porte among others and signed an alliance with France.
Extraordinary times indeed!
