Paknam incident[edit]
Main article: Paknam incident
As a result, relations between Bangkok and the West soured, with France demanding reparations. The British sent in 3 navy ships to the mouth of the Chao Phraya, in case evacuation of British citizens became necessary.[1] In turn the French went one step further in July 1893 by ordering two of their ships, the sloop Inconstant and the gunboat Comète, to sail up the Chao Phraya towards Bangkok, without the permission of the Siamese: they came under fire from the fort at Paknam on July 13, 1893.[10] The French returned fire and forced their way to Bangkok.[7]
With guns trained on the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the French delivered an ultimatum to the Siamese on July 20 to hand over the territory, to withdraw their garrisons there, to pay an indemnity of two million francs in reparation for the fighting at Paknam, and to punish those responsible for the killings in the disputed territory.[7] When Siam did not immediately comply unconditionally to the ultimatum, the French blockaded the Siamese coast.[7]
In the end the Siamese submitted fully to the French conditions, finding no support from the British.[3] In addition, the French demanded as guarantees the temporary occupation of Chantaburi and the demilitarisation of Battambang, Siemreap and a 25 kilometre-wide zone on the western bank of the Mekong.[7] The conflict led to the signature of the Franco-Siamese Treaty, on October 3, 1893.[7]