New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-02
FRENCH RECKLESSNESS.

The French nave met WIN eoiio"o i0'oi
in their career of colonial adventure. In Mad
agascar their campaign of intrigue mas peeh
closed by tho successful bombardment OF
mort in the Congo region De Brazza is march
ing inland with strong force; and in Iunis
no new complications have arisen; Dut III
another quarter mismanagement has been 1ol-
lowed by misfortune. The foundations Oh their
Asiatic Empire were laid twenty years ago IN
Cochin China, the possessions In lndia, which
they had held since 1879, being OF small I'M
portance. Along the southern edge OF the coast
of the AMMAN peninsula, lying east OF
Siam. near the 10th degree of north lati-
tude. they have gradually established COM
mercial and political ascendancy, taking inc
kingdom of Cambodia under their protection.
The area Of their possessions ana protec.eo
countries already exceeds $4,000 square miles,
with population of 100000. Between tne
10th and Goth parallels are the dominions OF
the King of AMMAN, and in the northernnoS'
section il the Province of TOnquin, adjoining
Tie Chinese frontier. The French have been
endeayoring during the last ten years to sup
nlant Chinese influence at the Court OF Hue,
tbe capital of AMMAN, and to obtain foothoid
in the North. Last year Hanoi, the capitai Oh
Tonuun, was occupied after SIEGE ana
prcparations were made 10 open the Songcoi'
or Red River. to commerce; but owing to
Chinese intricues at the Court of Hue the
position of the garrison became critical, ana
urgent appeals were made for reiniorcelneh's'
According 10 the latest advices, the French
forces have been attacked by the natives anu
Riyiere, their commander, has been killed
Such renforcements as can be spared from the
meagre garrison of Saigon have been us
matched to Tonquin, but with the AMMAN
Court openly rejoicing over the instruction OF
the natives, and with the Chinese authorities
preparing to resist the pretensions oil the
invaders. the French find themselves in an
unenviable position.
The Tonquin episode illustrates NJ once the
greed and the recklessness OF the french
Government and its colonial agents. Since the
landing of the troops was effected in the North
the officials have boldly proclaimed their
intention of assuming the protectorate OF the
entire peninsula from Saigon to the Chinese
frontier Hostile advisers were to be driven
from the Court of Hue, permanent alliance
was to be formed with the sovereign OF
AMMAN. Tonqun was to be occupied III l0rce'
and new routes were TO be opened to the
Chinese province Of Yunnan. After pro-
tracted period of vacillaton and delay the
French Government proposed small vote OF
credit for an expedition to Tonquin and re-
Inducements were sent out, but wnen INC
transports reached their destination the natives
learned to their amazement that the detach-
nent forwarded for the relief of the garrison
ot Hanoi numbered only 500 men. The
annearance of so small n column when strong
one was looked for created an impression OF
weakness which was fatal to the immediate
success of the ambitious projects OF the colo
NAL agents. The natives of Tonquin, perceiy-
ing that the permanent occupation OF
the province could not be secured
with so meagre a display of force, have VEN
tured to attack the garrison which when re-
inforccd did not exceed 1000 men. Inc
King of AMMAN, who might have been de-
tacbed from his alliances With the Chinese
Court if the French Government had shown
nroper energy and sent out strong column,
will NOW rejoice over the detection Of the
nopulation of Tonqmn and sympathze with
the attempt to expel the invaders from the
capital. Indeed, the garrison may soon find
It's position untenable and be forced to aban-
don the country completely, the dangers and
difficulties of the situation being multiplied
by the arrival of so contemplate body OF
reinforcements.
1t is painful to observe the temper with
which this reverse in the colonial policy of
greed and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is received by the
French Deputies. Their vanity is touched,
and they cry out with one accord that the
death of the commander of the garrison of
Hanoi must be promptly avenged. Even the
Radicals, who are supposed to be advocates of
q pacific policy of industrial progress, are as
infatuated as the rest and large reinforce
mepts and the necessary credits are voted
with precipitate haste. No attempt is made
TO forecast the inevitable difficulties which
will arise in administering such a country as
Tonquin, if 1t be permanently occupied in
large force, or in removing the grounds of
Chinese opposition to the severance of a feud-
atory province A policy of adventure and
covetousness is sanctioned without serious re-
Election and in n spirit of utter recklessness.
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