142 FRANCE, ANNAM, AND CHINA. 



been perpetual changes in the personnel of the military and civil 

 departments. During the most critical period of the war, nineteen 

 civil and military officers have successively exercised supreme com- 

 mand, either in Annam or Tonquin. At the beginning of the trouble 

 independent officers were appointed to the two departments, and 

 this arrangement proving unsatisfactory, one officer held supreme 

 command in both departments, at one period a civil officer having 

 full control, and at another period a military officer exercising it. 



These constant changes in administration, and the petty jealousies 

 that they created, have largely increased the difficulties of France 

 in the direction of a pacific and solid settlement of affairs in the 

 two conquered provinces. 



The policy and ambition of France has been for a century, (nay 

 for centuries), as it has been shown, and is now as strong as ever, to 

 extend her Colonial Empire, which, in itself, is a laudable ambition, 

 as it is laudable for Germany in Africa, for Holland in the East, for 

 Portugal at 4:he Cape, for England in Australia, New Zealand, or 

 Canada, or of any other Maritime Power. 



France has a great and powerful Navy, and a Marine as brave as 

 they are patriotic ; her people have a great spirit of enterprise, and 

 are anxious to seek their prosperity in foreign climes, and by so doing 

 to advance and consolidate the Colonial greatness of their country. 



But it is a fatal error, based on a wrong view of an extended 

 policy of colonisation, to suppose that trade and commerce will 

 follow the flag, or march in the track of territorial acquisitions, and that a 

 Colonial Empire, founded on a policy of fraud and force will prosper, 

 or secure a peaceful and prosperous future. 



If France could have succeeded in introducing the blessings of 

 civilisation, of commerce, of order and tranquillity into the whole of 

 the Indo-Chinese Peninsula, and by that means have opened up 

 a highway to the densely-populated and fertile regions of South- 

 Western China, Surely England and China, the two nations that 

 have the largest interest in the development of trade, would be the 

 chief gainers ; but valuable as these interests are, there are interests 

 more valuable, and to a civilised and highly enlightened Power like 

 France, interests which ought not to be disregarded : the rights of free 

 Nationalities, the territorial rights of an aboriginal people, respect for 

 Treaties, and above all a high regard for the independence, and 

 Sovereignty of States. 



The policy of intervention and annexation pursued by France in 

 the Indo-Chinese Peninsula is a direct and flagrant violation of 



