FRANCE, ANNAM, AND CHINA. 1 27 



which led to that deplorable crisis ; because, in order to arrive at a 

 sound judgment, it is necessary to state the truth of these historic 

 events. 



The first question that presents itself is : — -What right, what 

 object, had France in Tonquin ? The answer is clear ; No right but 

 the brute right of conquest, which confers no right at all ; No object 

 but the extension of dominion, and the development thereby of her 

 Colonial interests. 



The Treaty of Peace, which was signed at Saignon in 1874, which 

 secured no extension of territory, or of Colonial interests for France 

 in Tonquin, where such great sacrifices of blood and treasure had 

 been made, gave great dissatisfaction to a large section of what may be 

 called, with no disrespect, the Military and Colonial interests in 

 France. 



Dupuis, whom we have previously referred to, the real author of 

 the war in 1874, as he was also indirectly, the real author of the war 

 in 1 88 1, was especially aggrieved, for he said he was a ruined man, 

 and no sooner was the Treaty signed than he returned to France, 

 and vigorously exerted himself in impressing his wrongs on those 

 in Power. In January, 1880, he so far succeeded that the French 

 Government appointed a Commission of the Chambers to examine 

 into the whole matter, and, rightly or wrongly, that Commission, 

 unfortunately, reported in his favour, that he had an undoubted claim 

 on the two Governments of France and Annam. 



This was the real cause of the war. No doubt there were under- 

 lying and auxiliary motives, which any Government anxious for a 

 war is always ready to bring forward in justification of a declaration 

 of war ; but they were only the pretexts, not the actual casus belli. 



The pretexts were iiumerous : 



1. The piracy and brigandage, on the frontiers of the French settle- 

 ments, by the wild tribes, commonly called Chinese pirates or 

 Black Flags, and the unwillingness, or inability, of the Government 

 of Annam to fulfil its compact with France, to restrain and punish 

 these marauders. 



2. The unsatisfactory reports of the French Consuls at Haiphong 

 and Hanoi. 



3. The stagnation of the French trade in the conquered provinces 

 of Cochin-China. 



Lastly, the declared persecutions of the French subjects, by 

 Annam, on account of their religious convictions. 



