NEWS OF THE WEEK.
AN occasional correspondent of the Times, whose identity is not obscure, warns the country that China does not intend to allow the French to annex Tonquin, or to dominate there. The Marquis Tseng is negotiating with the French Government, and the Cabinet of Pekin are sending troops to Tonquin, and concentrating their Navy near Shanghai. It is not very pro- bable that M. Duclerc, in the present position of his Govern- ment, will send a large expedition to China, more especially as he could expect no assistance from the remainder of the Treaty Powers. He recently, however, made an ominous reference in the Chamber to the obligation imposed on France of protecting Catholics in the East, he is believed to be strongly urged to action by the French representative in China, and he may have assurances of the support of M. Gambetta, whose policy, as M. Spuller told his electors, is to extend French colonial dominion. The dispute, if there is one, will not be pleasant for Great Britain, for the Chinese, if victorious, will undoubtedly make demands on us ; and the trade of Hong Kong, as the writer in the Times reminds us, is already one hundred millions a year,—nearly as great as the trade with India. On the other hand, if France were to succeed, disorder might spread through all China, and would greatly intensify the dislike already felt towards Europeans. Fortunately, the Chinese hurry nothing, and a strong party at Court is most unwilling to increase the influence of General Tao, who, if he repelled a European attack, would be master of the Empire.
