565
The Chinese garrison at Baenink are sentenced to be beheaded in front of the Army for their cowardice in not defending that stronghold against the French. It has been observed that this is a distinct avowal that the Chinese Government engaged in the defence of Baenink.
5.
The strongest point in this strange history is that no one,—certainly not the Foreign Ministers at Peking, is as yet able to say whether the above Decrees really indicate peace or war between France and China. I am in constant communication by letter and telegraph with Sir Harry Parkes, while I see frequently the United States' Minister in China (Mr. Young), and the Netherlands Minister (Mr. Ferguson), who are both now at Hongkong. We must await the development of events, which will probably be known at London by telegraph before this despatch reaches Your Lordship.
6.
Meanwhile, the new Ministers