CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875 — Page 331

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with the French, Yr. despatch laid upon the Table of the House on the 21st Apr). a Bill for the Ratification of the Treaty. We felt bound to take exception to the terms, but they were led by the language to hope that an arrangement satisfactory to both parties might be made by an interchange of further Communications. They cannot therefore hardly suppose that it is the intention of H.M.G. to bring the matter abruptly to a close, without regard to their Representations, & without affording them an opportunity of replying to the observations contained in Yr. despatch.

I am unable to modify the views expressed in the Paper presented to H.M.G. by Lord Lytton. I refrain on the present occasion from enlarging upon the whole of the objections stated in that Paper. There is however one point urged in the Memorandum communicated to me by Yr. Excellency in the Reply which I am instructed to add without delay.

You will observe that it appears from the Memorandum just held that any other Powers are at liberty to make treaties with Annam, & that the jurisdiction claimed by the French Treaty to extend to persons of all European Nationalities, as well as the intervention of French Consuls in the commercial transactions of other Europeans & in their relations with the Annamite Customs, will cease on the conclusion of such Treaties. In short that the arrangements now made are merely of a temporary character, intended for general convenience at the outset.

I am glad to find that this is the sense in which the F.G. understand the Treaty; but with a view to guarding against ...