The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-01
The French in China,

The acquisition OF territory in the Indo-
Chinese peninsula by France dates back to
1859, when the French took Saigon, an i'm
portant town on the Saigon Tlver, Ostensi-
bly, i'm retaliation for the murder OF several
missionaries between 1854 and 1858, but
really to open the way for the establish
ment OF colony. As early rs the seven
teenth century the Jesuits introduced
Christianity into Anam, and in the eigh-
tenth century French priests converted
the Emperor GYA-LONG and founded
powerful hierarchy. Through these priests
the richness of some portions OF the
country became known, and France bad
long desired a preteXt for gaining a
foothold there which could be made
to rebound to her advantage In CONNER
cial sense. TU-DuK, the Emperor, made
desperate but unsuccessful effort to retake
Saigon, and two years later was defeated at
Ki-boa by q combined force OF French and
Standards, and was shortly afterwards COM
PEELED to surrender three provinces to the
French in perpetuity. In 1867 preteXt
was found for taking three more provinces
from TU-DUK, and thus the French came
into possession OF their then objective
point, the mouth and the delta OF the
Mekong river. which was supposed
to be navigablc as far north as the
southwestern boundary OF China pro-
per. If this had been the case
France would have had access to the COM
merce Of the richest provinces OF the Chi
nese Empire. Subsequent exploration,
however, demonstrated that the Mekong
could not be utilized for that purpose, and
since then French statesmen have been on
the alert for any opportunity to rectify the
error fallen into regarding that river. In
1873 NJ. DuPUIs assembled the SOngkoi
river from its mouth to Hanoi, the capital
of the province OF Tonquin, and thence to
Mong-Kow, the head OF the navigabe
waters OF the Songkoi, and within the Chi.
pese province Of Yunnan. Tonquin and
Hanoi, therefore, Immediately became the
objects OF French cupidity, as the songko
afforded Just the facilities they desired. ant
Lieutenant GARNER undertook to appro
pirate Tonquin nolenS uolens. This attemp
was made in the face of a treaty between
France and Anam, by the terms OF which
the Emperor TU-DUK resigned all claims
upon the six provinces wrested from hin
In Lower Cochin China, and received IL
return recognition Of his sovereignty ovel
Tonquin and Upper Cochin China, an(
promises OF assistance against any and al
enemies that might invade his territory
Lieutenant GARNER was killed in serli
from the citadel OF Hanoi, which is helt
by small body OF Frenchmen, and this
with other complications easily brough
about. gave France, it seems, an excuse {,
undertake the carrying out OF GARNER
scheme on larger scale. The Emperor
OF China is the Suzeran OF the Emperor o
Anam, and Hanoi is supposed to be tn,
point to which the Chinese army Is march
ing in support Of TU-DUK. The natives O
Tonquin are said to be very quiet, inof
fensive people, but from the preparation.
the French are making for the invasion il
would appear that they do not by any
means anticipate an easy conquest. The
commerce Of the world Is interested to the
extent that II Is believed that with civil
lied government in Tonquin the songkoi
would become an outlet for the trade OF the
whole OF Central China.