THE ORIGIN OF THE FRANCOANNAMESE WAR.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3776, 22 August 1883, Page 4

THE ORIGIN OF THE FRANCOANNAMESE WAR.

In 1837 Jean Dupuis, a traveller, left France for Egypt, Avhere tho construction of the Suez Canal avus just commencing. After remaining there for tAvo years he went to China, and accompanied Admiral Hope up the Yang-tsze, _ Avhere that commander, in accordance Avitli the Treaty of Tientsin, was to select three ucav ports to bo open to foreign trade. Dupuis settled at HankoAV, the highest of the three ; but after a time he proceeded to the southern provinces of the empire, AA'hich being out of the usual track of commerce, were but little knoAvn. It is true that the English had attempted to reach them from the'frontiers of India, and the French had sent an expedition for tho same purpose under Gree It attempted to penetrate China through Cambodia and the 3lelkong, but it receiA'ed a decided check, and no more Avas heard of it. Dupuis left Hankow in September, 1870. He Avent to Yunan, then ravaged by the 31ahomiiiedan rebellion. Joining tho Chinese commander, 31a, he offered to _ supply his starving troops -with provisions from the basin of the Red River. 31a told him that tho task Avas all but impossible. Nevertheless, Dupuis persisted. Leaving the Chinese camp Avith an escort, Avhich accompanied him as Jar as tho frontiers of Tonking, he commenced his search for the Song-koi, aided only by one Chinese servant. He travelled through regions inhabited by crowds of extremely bad characters, and at last ho reached a deep gorge through Avhich floAved a river. This, lie Avas told, Avas tho Song-koi. Descending it, in a boat he arrived atlvou-en-si, tiie first Annamito post on the rivois where he Avas turned back. Coimnced of the navigability of the river, he returned to Yunan, ascertaining as he Avent that tho country on either side Avas rich in coal, iron, tin, copper, and silver, together with timber, game, and animals of all kinds. The Chinese, Avhen thoy heard of this, at once saw the importance of the country to their south-Avestern provinces, and they wore anxious to send Dupuis with 1000 men to get provisions for 3la's famishing soldiers. M. Dupuis accepted the commercial mission, but declined the army, on the ground that it would imperil France's future interests in Tonking. The King of Aiinain is a vassal of Chida; but, instead of going to look after the much-needed proA-isions, Dupuis returned in 1872 to France. A feAV months later he appeared in tho Gulf of Tonking, at tho delta of the Song-doi, Avith a small fleet of sailing and steam vessels equipped at his oavii expense. The Annamitc mandarins Avcreconvulsed. Thcucw-comerscon-vulsod them still further by dri\'ing them out of the commercial part of the toAvn into the citadel, and after leaA'ing a force there Dupuis joined his old friend 31a in Yunan. His next step Avas to seek the assistance of the French governor of Saigon, telling him that the Tonkingeso Avere eager to ttirciAV off the Annamitc yoke. Lieutenant Granier Avas sent AA'ith a handful of men to the scene of action, and by sheer impudence ho stormed the citadel of Hanoi—a victory Avhich Avas folioYved by a general declaration of the populace for the French. He Avas killed soon afterAvards in a sortie, and, oddly enough, his successor exactly reversed his policy. He adhered io the Annamites as against the Tonkingese, and calmly gave up the citadel on Hanoi. Finally, he seizedDupuis's fleet, aud expelled him from the peninsula, after Aviiich he concluded a treaty Avith Annum, the breach of Avhich is the cause of the present Avar.