Hundreds of columns of news about the negotiations with China
have been published in the French papers this week, but the few facts may be stated in a dozen lines. These are that the French have not advanced a step in Tonquin, but after some sanguinary skirmishes are still confined to Hanoi ; that M. Challemel-Laconr, over-ruled by the Cabinet, has left M. Ferry to manage the affair; that M. Ferry and the Marquis Tseng have held a consultation ; and that no agreement has been arrived at. The hitch remains as at first. The French cannot, or will not, understand that the Chinese intend them to leave Tonquin, though they may hold the rest of Anam, and keep continually offering "neutral zones." The Chinese do not want neutral zones, which would be governed by France through Anamese Mandarins, and would be passed when- ever France could allege that the zones were full of brigands, but to be able to govern Western China without wasting half their revenue on an army of observation. They will concede, under strict limitations, the navigation of the Songkoi, to all the world, as well as to France, but they will not have French troops in the delta. From their point of view, they are wise ; and as the French Chamber meets in a month, October 25th, they will in all probability be successful.
