Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-04-17
Origin Of the Trouble between France
and China.
Boston Globe

In order to understand froGa what
small beginnings great difficulties
may arise, it is well to go back two
years for the purpose of seeking the
causes which have led to the present
differences between China and France.
Fs- many years past France has had
colonial establishment III Cochin
China, and has used this as the basis
of certain exploring expeditions into
the country to the north. Indeed, IN
1875 a treaty was made with the Gov
eminent of AMMAN by which, IN con
sideration of the protection which the
French Government offered, the En-
peror Of that country agreed to extend
to the French certain trade privileges.
In consequence of this treaty certain
advanturesome officers of the French
army and navy made explorations
throughout the Annamese territory,
and came to the conclusion that 1T
would be eminently desirable if France
could, at no great cost to herself, OBJ
lstain,a complete prot:ct,rate over this
i county Bat as late as two years
ago the mailer was still IA an -unde-
veloped condition, Fer on the 18th OF
March, 1883, a discussion q go
lowing tenor took place IN the French
| Senate:
M. de SANITY allier. who had evil
IDENTIFY been posted by the Government
for M. Ferry had then just been
made Premier, and was ANXIOUS to in
augurate brilliant foreign policy
questioned the Minister Of Foreign
Affairs on the situation OF the French
colonies, and especially Tonquin. The
Senator pointed out that France was
losing her markets in the East in con-
sequence OF the absorption OF these by
| England, Germany ond the United
States. The only remedy was to Gre
ate new markets or develop old mar
kets by means of colonies. France
had done well in Tunis, and he felt
that ii would be her natural destiny
to do equally we'll in Tonquin, if the
Government would give its assistance
toward the establishment OF colonies
there and insure the free navigation
OF the Red river, thus placing French
commerce in direct communication
with most of the southern provinces Of
China.
The Minister Of Foreign Affairs re-
piled that the views expressed by tho
Senator were in great measure shared
by the Government. 1t was felt nee
essary to extend French INTEREST," amd
influence among distant populations,
which had been misled as 10 her situa-
ton by the results of the war with
Germany. The Government, in its
colonial policy, he said, would be
o1,;xlnI l,,r Inc .1o.N,nlyy fn &c
chew romantic enterprises, and to en-
force French rights wherever they
existed or wherever they were estab-
lished by treaty. He regretted that
the sovereign of AMMAN had violated
his treaty, and recognized the suzer>
ainty of China, and that he had even
permitted the persecution OF French
subjects; but this was state of affairs
that would soon be ended. No one
contemplated the conquest of Ton
quin, but it was necessary to pursue
an energetic policy. After the Easter
vacation, the Government would sub
nit definite resolutions, which were
now in preparation, these contemplate
ing the outlining of a policy which
would consist in occupying certain
points in the coHntry,in order to show
that the French colonists meant to
remain, and to secure protection for
French citizens, as we'll as for foreign
ers.
1t will be seen that this way was by
no means an ambitious policy. 1t
merely contemplated certain trading
relations which it was thought would
be beneficial to French commerce.
The native jurisdiction was respected,
only France was to issist on the en-
forcement of the laws, and was to
have something to say relative to their
formation. If at that time any one
had asserted that this was but the
first step toward war with China,
which would involve the expenditure
of millions upon millions of French
money, and the sacrifice of thou
sands upon thousands of French lives,
the FreGch Ministry would have re-
pudlated the idea. There was admit-
ted certain degree of jealousy
existing between the French and the
Chinese upon what was asserted 10 be
a purely theoretical question of wheth-
CIR the Emperor of AMMAN should or
should not each year formally &C
knowledge his imperial neighbor at
Pckin as his superior But this was
looked upon as matter of trifling
Importance. Yet the history of the
past two years has shown how easy it
is 10 develop a small misuaderstand>
ing into a great war.