M. C. Bran, the French Minister of Marine, has made
a most serious statement to the Committee on Tonqi.in. He told A° menaters that the Government intended to compel the Emperor of Anam to consent to the occupation of the province of Ton- gain, to acknowledge a French protectorate over the rest of the country, to entrust all power to French officials, and to make over all revenue, receiving in return a French guarantee, and one-third of the net receipts for himself. The whole of Anam, a kingdom larger than Great Britain, stretching from Saigon to China, with a population of 5,000,000, is, in fact, to be annexed at once, and governed on the Tunisian system, the revenue of £1,200,000 being divided into three parts. One will be left to the native Sovereign, one will be spent on public works,. and one will be used for administrative purposes. The country is to be garrisoned by marines, and by 6,000 Ton- quinese militia to do fatigue duty. M. Brun admitted that the Chinese Government had already despatched 2,000 men to- Tonquin, but thought the presence of French troops would overawe them, and that there would be no complications. The- Committee agreed with him, and will report in favour of a credit of 2220,000 for the expedition, but it is still doubtful if the Chamber will assent. The Deputies certainly will not, if they understand that the ruler of Anam can sign no such cession of his kingdom, he being tributary to Pekin, and that the result will be a dangerous war with China. France can defeat China,. but not with a handful of marines operating 1,600 miles from Pekin.
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