The French Foreign Office is said to have sent an
ultimatum to Pekin. M. Ferry, emboldened by a report from M. Tricon stating that China is not preparing for war, and that the southern provinces deprecate hostilities, has demanded that southern Tonquin shall become French, and that northern Tonquin shall be placed under a mixed administration of Anamite and Chinese Mandarins. The statement is curiously definite, though it comes from the Figaro, which is always wrong; and if it is true, it implies war. It is, in fact, only a veiled demand for the surrender of the whole of Tonquin. The Government of Pekin cannot make the concession, under penalty of the overthrow of the dynasty ; nor, if any of its declarations can be trusted, would it if it could. To give up Tonquin is to give up the possibility of governing the rich South without a garrison, which would consume all the revenue. We give the statement, because it is treated as important; but, for our- selves, we believe that M. Ferry has agreed with the President to await. the decision of the Chamber, and that the Chamber will not permit any serious distant expedition. Note in this connection that M. Tricou is said to have reported his opinion that Chinese resistance to the cession is entirely ir spired by the English, who dread competition. That is absurd, but it is like all that is reported of M. Tricon.
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