L'Indo-Chine Frangaise of the Lst, inst, afier complaining of what it terms misstatements. made by the French pross.as to the recent events.in Tonquin, goes on to give its own account of what happened. Our contemporary is rather late in the day. So far it has been dependent on the Hongkong papers for its Tonquin news, and the account it now gives on its responsibility contains several great inacouracies, It says:—''The French papers have seen in the use of force at Hanoi a rupture of diplomatic rel: i Emperor of Annam, the so quin. This is an error. whi able to rectify b; single soldier in Hanoi or its environ This town, like all others in Tonqui was administered by mandarin Hné, For some time, however, the Black Flags, who occupy a part of the north of Tonquin, had been approaching Hanoi, the ancient capital of the kingdom and its ha to imp to exact duty from the boats which arrived at the town, This situation, which the Government of Hué confessed itself powerless to amend, was full of danger for the security of trade and the life of the inhabitants. The Government of Cochin-China, being perfectly cognisant of the state of thought it could not be allowed to continue without detriment to our {ufluence in Tonquin, and, taking the place of the Government. of Hué, whi perhaps in complicity with the brigands who governed Hanoi, gave orders to two oom-panies of marine infantry,.to leave Saigon for 'Tonquin and take Hanoi. A few days after the arrival of our troops before the town the assault commenced, and the citadel was taken after a few hours' bombardment. Our loss was nil, but the Black yppored any serious re-than two hundred of till keep, dri brigands from the town, and remitted authority of which they had been de: rived to the hands of the mandarins hope that the flag of France wi for ever above the citadel, where the courage of our soldiers haa placed i error in the above in the otatement that the citadel waa defended by the Black 3 it was, in fact, defended by the ison, and Black Flags masters of the town. Our contemporary having run a ti the ignorance of the France Maritime, goes on:—"* Wo, Li willingly render homage to Dupuis and salute the heroic memory of Francis Garnier, but there our agreement ends, There is no longer military regime in Cochin-China, and itis till mentioned, it is only as vague and painful memory. Wo will Tonguin 5 it it of time—wi familiar with the language and habits of the people, will immediately be sent into the province; in six months it will be administratively organised like Cuchin-China, and o year. afterwards tribunals will be established, as has already been done here. 'These results acquired, M. Dupuis can come and found a grand financial establishment under, the authority of the French laws, which' will be effective and certain in a different sense from those of protectorate. As to the protectorate, we will establish it over the rest of Annam, on the same lines as it now exists in bodia, Then we can survey our work with jo, for without being complete it will 1 be great, quid will permit us to survey yet wider horizons.... Suchare.the views of all Frenchman who had lived. the colony for any length of time."—Daily THE FRENCH IN ANNAM, TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS."
Sit,—The recent nows respecting, the stations of some of the French ships of war around Tonquin in the first week of April has been inserted in the papers, Since then this has passed as a rumour, there being no known authority for the truth of it. The news which strikes us with astonish-that the French had, on the 25th of April; invaded the metropolis of Toi gum and got ion of it, It seems to hav th hat the French Gonoral gon and the French Ambassador at mut a despatch to Annam stating that the ship of war lying around were intended for driving away the Black Flags in order to protect the Western Merchants in oar-tying on their trade between Kongko siver and Yunnan without any disturbance, and that no interference the locality (of Annam) would be ma When the French: Naval Officers had their ships of war lying in the harbour they were welcomed: and. entertained by the Civil: Officers of Tonquin, and the French crews lodged on the mainland for more than 20 days, during which period neither of the parties had any difference with the other, 'The French, however, taking the advantage of the incapability of the native officers to make any preparations for action, suddenly -invaded Yonguin and took. it,' The death of the Governor Wong and the Vi Lai resulted, The suddennes sion of Tonquin has b able, Tracing back th the Branch and Annam we find that in the year 1862, the French along with their consorts tie Spaniards, invaded the three provinces in Saigon, ho war continued for three yours, and at last the thro pro vinces were yielded to the French by: tho Annamoese on a treaty of peace being made, Peace continued for some time, after which rench tried to possess the other thr interior provinces of Saigon, but the Annames refused to accede to' this a ment. In consequence of this refusal, in around Tonguin and. attacked. several 1874, the French had. many ships of war
places, capturing and ill-using many, of the native officers. In a battle, however, the French Commander-in-chief was slain. Afterwards a Treaty was made between the French and Annamene G ernments that the places which had been ken by the French should be restored to min; that the provinces of Saigon be given up by Annan to the French to be governed by them; that hostilities should cease between both Governments for ever, and that. mercantile, pursuits, should b carried on, Now the, question, ari For what res did the French invade Tonquin this, time? Do. the French mean that Aunam could not keep up ihe Treaty ference with the French merchants by the on account of its inability to, provent intor-
Flag 7 quiries having been made of chaute, the facts obtained from them seem to show that the Black Flag had been under the protection of /-Annam before the Treaty was made in regard to commercial pursuits. The Annnmese Government had permitted the Black Flag to station af.Po Shing for keeping out avy. plundering rebels, In the troubles of the rebell{ou, Admiral Fung of the Chinese Government led an army over to exterminate the rebels, and during. that time the Black Flag were aleo very anxious to. lond.a, hand in driving out the rebels. The reason why the Anvamese Government has not exercised its authority to keop.the. Black Flag out of the place is because {t has been found that the place is situated far out and gave
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.