THE FRENCH IN TONQUIN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3727, 26 June 1883, Page 4

THE FRENCH IN TONQUIN.

The Anam or Cochin China War (says a couto.mponiry) may bo a more serious busi-E-:s* than any conflict in Madagascar, as it :r..',v briiu- the French into collision with Enioire. M Challemel-Lnnnur xz.--;rni->:c •-> c*Ar ?ru.iC'.- uiat '' the Frtueh oi -■.-■: :r;:o« :•:• make a conquest of Tou- ,^,-'- i ';-- ";; ~as r.cccA#ary to pursue a :.r.i energetic policy in order to <L.i~r:~~ :!•: 3;.*fr:.:ori now made in China •Li": Is.i F:-;n::: occupation was about to *- i." Ar..?-ii i* the long strip of land ranri:,- ir.'~; :"se Gulf of Siam to the Chinese ir;£'dr.r. French Cochin China is the most iCTi-ZiTTi province. Tonquiu is the northern :r:Ti-;f. and therefore touches the Chinese Ex-rire. The French advance in Anam has bt'-n progressive. Treaty rights were $••;•:iirt-:l nearly a century back. In ISG2, in consequence of the murder of some French subjects, Saisron, the true capital of Lower Cocliin Chiini, was seized, and was afterwards ceded by the Anam Government ■with several provinces. In 1874 tho French transferred their attention to Tonquin, and obtained by treaty tho right to establish theinslelves and to trade at Hanoi, the capita on tho Red River (Hong-'kiang), and at its port, Nin Nai. Hero it is that tho fighting is now talcing place. The French have deemed it necessary to assert themselves at this juncture, as they allege, because of tho action of Chirm, whicli entered Tonquin to repress disorders on the frontier, and to assert "the rights it has possessed for centuries over Anam." This army, however, has retired under orders from tho Pckin Government, which, through its ambassador in Paris, tho Marquess TSeng, lias proposed that Anam should bo maintained as neutral country between China and tho French Saigon provinces, or that a joint protectorate should be established over Tonquin. Franco, however, has passed upon tho Annm rpgent the concession of certain posts, unci tho establishment of a seiniproteotorate. The transport C'orrcze, with 1000 troops, sailed from Toulon in December last to reinforce the French eaniinander, Major Reviore. Two hundred of those men ivero to be left at Saigon to strengthen tho garrison, and the remainder were to proceed to tlio J.lr:d River. "Tliuh reinforced," said tlioLiboi'to, "'Major Hiviorc will have nothing to four from either tho Chinese or tho AtnirnitcH, and will be in a position to conquer tho whole country if necessary." Tho O/iTi'Zo arrived in February, and the landing of th«a troop* ow.imoihA much uxf:if,OJii<;iit. Tho Anninito mandarins endoavourod to bar tho arm of tho Ked River leading to Hanoi, mo as to prevent the advance of thi.i holdioi-.H upon their capital. Commandant Kiviore, iioordor to keep open his conimuiiicatioiiH, attached and captured their citadel of Naowdinli. At the same tiinu tho French Legation at tho Court found the position so serious that it took its departure, and nought refuge ut Saigon. We now hoar of the advance of tho French up the river, probably upon Hanoi, and their repulse, Commandant Riviere being among tho slain. Tho natives of Anam are tho worst-built and tho ugliest of tho members of iho Mongolian raco. They uro below micldlo height, and distinctly shorter than their Chinese neighbours. Their complexion is dorker than tho Chinese, they have thick skins, low foreheads, llatskulls, and lozengeshaped faces, and owing to tho formation of the pelvia they walk with a curious .-swagger •which identifies the raco. In their various encounters with the French they have shown themselves an obstinate, tenacious, and sometimes a cruel foe. The latest information upon the Anam question in tho papers received by the mail is contained in tho following telegram from Paris in tho Times :— "April 15th. " M. Jumeau dc Kcrgaradoc has left Paris as the now Envoy to tho C6urt of Anam. The treaty of 1874 with Anam expires next year, and M. dc Kergaradcc is directed to obtain a more advantageous one, and meanwhile, to enforce French rights, M. Bourcc, tho French Envoy at Pekin, has at tho same timo been disgraced for signing without authority a treaty recognising Chinese igjiprcmacy in Auam, and according to which JBince was to pledge herself against tho annexation of Tonquin, and China was to roliovo Tonquin of the annual tribute of rico. Tho treaty is repudiated by tho French Government, which intends to ask Parliament for a voto for tho occupation of certain peints on tho Red River, in order to exercise a real protectorate over Tonquin." Commenting uoon this telegram, the Spectator (London) writes:— "Tho impression at Pekin, wo believe, was that M. Boureo was in favor of a forward policy, but ho may have patched up Tonqtiineso affairs in a way that M. Challemel-Lacour disapproves. At all events, it is evident that Minister intends to risk an encounter with China. It is simply impossible that a diplomatist of some cxperienco, responsible for foreign affairs, could

have gratuitously affirmed in the Senate that he must attack Anam because its ruler acknowledged Chinese suzerainty, unless he meant to set Pekin at defiance. The suzerainty is a fact of centuries, and the Empress-Regent must now either defend her vassal or cede Anam to a European Power. There is littlo doubt among those who know China that the first serious resistance to the French in Tonquin will be offered by Chinese regulars, and that the expedition now arriving will consequently be found insufficient for its work."