Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-06
CHINA READY TO FIGHT.
SENG YU LIN REPORTS THE
CONFLICT INEVITABLE.

All Foreigners in Canton Notified and
the Mobilization of Troops for the De-
fense of the City Ordered-The Vel
low Book Given to the French Depu-
ties.
HONG KONG, Dec. 5.-Admiral Seng
Yu Lin, whom the Emperor of China sent
to Tonquin to investigate the position of
affairs there, has returned to Canton. He
has notified all foreigners that war with
France is imminent, and has ordered the
massing of all the available land and sea
forces for the protection of Canton. The
Admiral holds France answerable for
precipitating the war, and warns neutral
powers to observe their treaty stipulations
and rules of international law.
ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 5.-Le Jour
nal De 81. Petersburg declares that moth
ing is known in st. Petersburg relative to
Prussia participating with the other DOW
ers in the Joint protection of foreigners
and property in the event of war between
France and China
PARIS. Dec. 5.-Le Li6erte says that it
believes that NJ. Ferry's negotiations with
Marquis ISeng aim at the conclusion of a
treaty on the basis of the formation of a
neutral zone between China and AMMAN.
Ine same paper asserts that Earl Gran
vile, the British Foreign Secretary. has
informed Marquis Tseng that if China
does not make important concessions
England will leave France to complete
liberty of action.
The yellow book upon Tonquin at
fairs was distributed to the members of
the Chamber of Deputies. 1t contains the
Chlnese memorandum which Prime Minis
ter Ferry on the 2Sth ult. gave to the Ton
quin Credit Committee. The memoran-
dunn states that France had imposed on
AMMAN an unjust treaty, ignoring the
rights of China, that France had invaded
AMMAN and manifested an intention to
take Bacninh, the key of the Chinese en-
pre-, ETC., and that China, while feeling
compelled to resist aggression, appeal
ed to the honor of France to so
act as to prevent bloodshed 1t also con-
talns the note Of NJ. Ferry to Marquis
Tseng, the Chinese Ambassador. suggest
ing that special power be entrusted to the
military chiefs in Tonquin to effect an un-
derstanding by which China could sur
render Bacninh and Sontay peacefully to
Admiral Courbet, and that subsequently
definite settlement could be negotiated.
Marquis Tseng, in replying to the latter
proposition, says that he regrets that
France regards the occupation of SOntay
and Bacninh by her troops as indispen-
sable to the settlement of the question.
lie also says that he fails to perceive
the necessity of France occupying
those places which she is aware
the Chinese hold. Marquis Tseng COM
ments on the statement made by Minister
Ferry in the Chamber of Deputies on the
3lst OF October, in which he declared that
the French Government did not believe
that China would declare war, nor had
France any intention of doing so: that
France was desirous of firmly establish
ing herself i'll the Red river delta by
gaming possession of SOntay and Bac-
nlnh; that when that was achieved no.
body would be able to drive her out: that
with patience, sang froid and her forces
she would be proof against everything,
and that that prudent policy would lead
to settlement of the TOnquin affair.
The Marquis observes that this statement
produced painful impression in Ton
quln. If 1t became question of the pos
session OF Tonquin. further negotiations
would be useless, as it would be impossi-
bic Tor China to agree thereon. On No
Yember 30th NJ. Ferry declared that the
ideas of the French Government had not
changed during the last three years.
French policy, he said, was guided by the
principles which formed the basis of the
treaty of 1875. The government desired
the consolidation of the French protecto-
rate, the free navigation of Song KOir
river and security for its commercial rela-
tions in Tonquin. The Marquis
having renewed the proposal
to fix line of demarcation
between the armies in the cantonment at
Hanoi and at Sontay and on the banks of
Red river, NJ. Ferry pointed out that
Marquis Tseng declared on the first of
August that there were no Chinese troops
in Tonquin, whereupon NJ. Challomel
LacOur, the then French Minister of
A
consequently no danger of a conflict. If
the Chinese forces approached fortresses
against which the French were advanc-
ing they would run the risk of being con-
sidered Annamite auXiliaries. Since then,
added NJ. Ferry, the situation remained
unchanged by our acts. Our plan of
campaign has not been modified and can
not be modified. 1t is not with us that
the responsibility for the conflict Will
rest