13° FRANCE, ANNAM, AND CHINA. 



possibly the permanent annexation of the northern provinces, in 

 fact, to bring the whole kingdom of Annam under French rule. 



We must not lose sight of this, that the policy of France in 

 Cochin-China, Annam, and Tonquin, since 1787, has been 

 a steadily advancing policy of conquest, which China had long 

 regarded with considerable mistrust, and opposed by persistent 

 diplomatic resistance, and therefore it must be generally admitted 

 that the position which China took up in this great quarrel was an 

 unassailable, at any rate a consistent, position. 



Each Treaty of Peace of France with Annam, negotiated after 

 successive and successful aggressive wars, shows an increase of the 

 French Protectorate, and of annexation of its provinces to France. 

 It was not to be wondered, therefore, that the Chinese Government, 

 whose Sovereignty over Annam was undisputed, viewed with appre- 

 hension, and opposed with a firm hand, the aggrandising policy of 

 France, which threatened to annul the ancient Sovereignty of China 

 over Annam and Tonquin, and thereby to create a French Colonial 

 State, conterminous with Chinese territory. 



The difficulty of the political situation rested on the flimsy pre- 

 tensions of France to this absolute protectorate over Annam and 

 Tonquin, and in the occupation of tbe capital of these States, until 

 the conditions of the Treaty were fulfilled. 



Moreover, the Sovereignty claimed by China was not merely of 

 historic interest, but an undisputable fact, and she would not admit 

 the right of France to set up a Protectorate over her vassals ; for a 

 Protectorate practically implied the subjection of the States protected. 



When Riviere attacked and stormed Hanoi in 1882, it showed the 

 determination of France to establish her authority in Tonquin, (the 

 cradle of Annam's power), in defiance of the Sovereignty of China 

 over Annam, and of her historic claims to be considered as its 

 Suzerain. 



China, at this turn of events was roused. The king, Tu-Duc, re- 

 cognising the Suzerainty of China, appealed to Pekin, (as he had a 

 right to do), for assistance, and from the first China rendered help to 

 her Vassal, and proved herself absolutely hostile to any scheme of 

 French policy which would crush the independence of Annam and 

 Tonquin, and lower China's dignity, as its Suzerain. 



Dupuis declared, in 1873, (and no one knew better than he did) 

 that " the Suzerainty of China over Annam, is beyond doubt and 

 question." No stronger proof could possibly have been given that 

 Annam had for long generations, been considered a Vassal of China. 



