FRANCE, ANNAM, AND CHINA. 1 23 



The result of this expedition was the thin edge of the wedge 

 of French domination in the Indo-Chinese peninsula ; it gave 

 France a considerable addition to her previously acquired colony 

 of Cambodia ; it obtained for her exclusive commercial advantages 

 by the opening of the numerous seaports of Annam ; it gave her, 

 in fact, what she had so long desired, a footing in Asia, and 

 thus largely increased her power and influence in that part of the 

 world. 



Prior to this period, her position in Cochin-China was limited 

 to the possession of the three provinces of Ha-Tien (Kang-Kao), 

 Tyaon-Dok (Hau-Ghiang), and of Vin-Long (Long-Ho). In con- 

 sequence, however, of the successful campaign in 1859, by the 

 capture of the forts of Tourane and the port of Saignon, she 

 annexed the three adjacent provinces in Cochin-China, Bien-Hoa, 

 (Dong-Nai), Gia-Dinh (Saignon), and Dia-Tuong (Myh-Ho), as well 

 as the Island of Poulp-Condor, south-east of Saignon. 



These provinces were annexed by conquest, and embodied in 

 a Treaty, signed June 5th, 1862, on the part of France, by 

 Rear Admiral Bonard, and for Annam by the Prime Minister of 

 Tu-Duc. On the exchange of the ratifications, the Treaty was 

 countersigned for France by Drouyn-de-L'Huys, and the late 

 Emperor Napoleon, and for Annam by Tu-Duc, the King of 

 Annam. 



This Treaty consisted of 1 2 Articles, the most important being the 

 clauses which provide for the absolute cession of the three provinces 

 aforesaid ; the declaration of a French protectorate over the whole 

 kingdom ; an indemnity of 4,000,000 dollars, payable over a period 

 of 10 years, at the rate of 400,000 dollars to be paid annually at 

 Saignon. 



By Article 9, Annam also agreed to suppress piracy and brig- 

 andage upon the frontiers of the French Colonial Empire of 

 Cochin-China. 



These advantages and conquests appeared to satisfy the ambi- 

 tions of France for a few years, and affairs settled down quietly 

 until 1873, when a fresh cause of disturbance arose in Tonkin ; 

 partly arising from an insurrection against Tu-Duc, stirred up by 

 the French missionaries, who desired the restoration of the ancient 

 dynasty of Lfeh, by which they hoped to obtain great concessions ; 

 and partly arising from the restless spirit of some French adven- 

 turers, operating on the Song-Koi or Red River, where efforts 



