FRANCE, ANNAM, AND CHINA. 1 39 



A RETROSPECT. 



Such then are the details, the saddening details, of French inter- 

 vention in Tonquin, and its inevitable results, the threatened hostilities 

 with China, which, happily, by the diplomatic efforts of Lord Gran- 

 ville and the Marquis Tseng, have not assumed serious proportions. 



From the first outbreak of the insurrection in the French provinces 

 of Indo-China in the year 1881, down to its partial suppression in 

 1886, (although since 1886 a state of unrest and unsettlement has 

 shown itself, of chronic rebellion against the French authority, in the 

 conquered provinces), a period of five years, Administration has 

 succeeded Administration in France with amazing and unparalleled 

 rapidity ; changes of Governments at home, and changes of Diplo- 

 matists abroad, brought about mainly by extravagant Budgets, in 

 consequence of the enormous votes of credit for the war in Indo- 

 China, and also in consequence of the military reverses and disasters 

 in Annam and Tonquin, and the unpopularity which these combined 

 causes have inevitably created on the body politic in France. 



In 1 88 1, when the war practically began, or when the first miUtary 

 expedition of Henri Rivifere was determined upon, Jules Ferry was 

 Premier, and Barthelemy St. Hilaire Foreign Minister, and the diplo- 

 matic representative of France in Indo-Cliina was M. Thompson. 



On the 13th May, 1881, the Government of Jules Ferry were 

 defeated in the Chamber, at the close of a debate raised by M. 

 Gambetta on the war in Tunis, which was really a vote of want of 

 confidence ; and, as a consequence, Leon Gambetta was compelled 

 to take office as Premier, and De Freycinet became Foreign Minister; 

 but it was a short-lived Administration, for on an adverse vote on 

 the question of scrutin de lists, or scrutin (farrondissement, Gambetta 

 resigned, and was succeeded as Premier by De Freycinet, who 

 retained the Portfolio for Foreign Affairs. 



Before the close of the year the Government of De Freycinet were 

 defeated on the thorny question of Egyptian Affairs, on a vote of 

 credit for meeting the expenses necessitated by the military prepara- 

 tions of intervention in Egypt, and De Freycinet was compelled to 

 resign. 



It was during the Administration of De Freycinet that Henri 

 Rivifere, whilst in command of his forces in Annam, was killed, and 

 General Boufet was appointed as his military successor, whilst M. 



