The Duke did not enter into detail, but he mentioned (as he had often done before) the sacrifices which France had made justifying the establishment of the differential duty in favour of Saigon.
It does not however appear to concern Foreign Powers whether a privilege to their detriment has been obtained by force or by purchase...
The Duke said that the naval proceedings, with a view to the ratification of the political treaty, had been taken when the law authorizing the Resident to ratify had passed the Assembly in August; and consequently that the ratification had been presumed complete.
I may however observe that the usual course is to announce the exchange of the ratification of treaties in the "Journal Officiel" and at the same time to promulgate them officially, and that no announcement or promulgation of the Treaty with Annam has appeared in that Journal.
I have despatched to Lyons.