The French evidently intend to found an Empire, and not
a Colony, in Indo-China. It is already explained in Paris that, although certain "Chinoiseries "—that is, showy make-believes —were allowed in the words of the Treaty of Tientsin, it was understood by both negotiators that it covered the full annexa- tion of An am. The new possession is to be called "Indo- China," and administered by a Governor-General residing at Hue, under whom will be three Governors, two Residents in Cambodia and Laos, and a " Military Administrator of the Frontier," who will look after the Black Flags. It is understood that the territory will be entirely self-supporting, and will have a garrison of 5,000 men, assisted by a Sepoy Army, commanded entirely by French officers. The Chamber has been asked to vote a " final" grant of £1,200,000, which it will do unanimously ; and M. Ferry, in his speech announcing the victory, takes credit for " moderation." He, however, proposes to raise the squadron of Madagascar from three vessels to eleven, and the force stationed there to 3,500 soldiers and sailors, besides Marines. He is, in fact, pushing relentlessly towards his end,—an appreciably large extension of the Colonial dominion of France. The idea of conquest in Morocco is denied ; but the quarrel iskept open, and it is suggested that Algeria must have a scientific frontier. She wants nothing of Morocco, but still there is a river which might form a natural boundary, and should be so declared. The cession of territory would be trivial, hardly bigger than England. "Spain," says M. Ferry, with effusion, "knows that we are honest."
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