Enclosure 2.
IEUNION
THE UNION OF FRENCH INDO- CHINA.
M. Blancsubé, the Deputy in Paris for Cochin-China, in a report addressed to the President of the Council at Saigon, pub- lished in the Saigonnais, writes as follows:--- Our protoctorate is being established over the whole of Annani; in what manner Ishall it be organised? This question is of the greatest importance, for on its solution depends the future of France in Indo- China.
Shall it be a protectorate as in Tunis at- tachod to different ministries I believe that is impossible. There is the question - of distance to prevent it, which the telegraph is not sufficient to overrule. Whatever lino is used it is necessary to traverse foreign countries, which takes away all seen. rity, above all in the case of any couplica- tions arising. What is wanted in Annam is a protectorate similar to that of Cambo- dia. That which has succeeded in the one case should succeed in the other, for the two situations are alike. In the interests of France it is necessary that there should be in Indo-China unity of aim and direction. elt would be profoundly impolitic to breed differences or opposing interesta, from which foreigners alone would profit. You have been willing to acknowledge, Monsieur the President, that this close union of the dif ferent parts of Indo-China placed under our control was most desirable. It is not Indo-Chi eso unity that it is necessary to establish, you have said, but Indo-Chinese union. The union only is, in fact, possible, seeing that Cochin-China alone is a French country and that the rest cousists of coun- tries protected by France, but not French territory.
The customs union should be completed between Annam and Tonquin on the one part, Cochin-China and Cambodia on the other. On this point there is no difference of opinion. It remains to fix the custom tariffs, which is the business of the adminis- tration, upon which the Saigon Chamber of Commerce can be consulted, as also concern. ing the trade of Tonquin.
The judicial union is no longer contested; the Court of Saigon is and will remain the Court of appeal for our tribunals in Annam, as it is for Siam, China and Japan. The postal and telegraphic union is entirely established. The administrative union exists in the sense that it is the personnel of Cochin-China which has furnished and furnishes almost the whole of the staff in Tonquin. The language, laws, habits and native organisation being the same in Tonquin and Annam as in Cochin-China, the officials of the Colony and it equally easy to exercise their functions in all Annamite countries. It would be a good plan to leave the entire personnel in the bands of the Governor to be employed whereverthe service may require, promotion taking place throughout the country, as is the case in France, without distinction of evidence. Public instruction should be under the same organisation throughout the country. Military and general union
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in all which affects the expenses of the Sovereignty are equally necessary, The great public works which interest every country, lighthouses, roads, telegraphs, &c., should be established and maintained at
general expense, as als all leřeygiri works. There has been much agitation
lately on the question of the Colonial army. The Indo-Chinese union admits of a solution of this question which appears to me advantageous. Cochin-China possesses a corps of native tirailleurs, commanded by French officers. This corps of 3,000 men is entirely at the cost of the Colony, which also has to pay the retiring peusions. The recent war proved the strength and fide lity of these troops. Considering its popu- lation and richness and also its require ments, Tonquin should be able to supply six, battalions instead of three, under the same conditions as in Cochin-China.
By the side of these native troops it will be necessary to have some French soldiers. With the three years service only it is evident that it would be necessary to resort to special recruiting for troops serving in Indo-China. In my opinion it would re- quire the ongagement of volunteers with bounties. They would form a military divi- sion comprising a proportionate number of troops of all arms, representing a small army. The Minister of the Colonies should have these troops under his control, and the expenses of maintaining them should be equably divided between Cochin-China and Annam. We should thus have in Indo-China powerful forces, capable of enforcing respect to the flag, and to the will of France, and
to establish indisputably her predominance, not only in Annam but also in the Laos valley, which forms geographically a portion of the peninsular of Indo-China over which we should exercise our authority.
With the union, we can and should achieve great things; without it we can do nothing. By the union France becomes at once a colonial power, at Asia- tic power on the borders of China, as Russia is on the North and as England is, and seeks to become still more, on the West.
Affairs have changed since 1880, but events have proved all our fore-castings to be right. To-day Tonquin and Anuam are more effect- ually underour protectorate than ever before. Cambodia is absolutely opened to us; at Siam M. Harmand has placed our influence and relatious with that Kingdom on the most cordial footing as is testified by the estab lishment of the telegraph line between Saigon and Ba gkok. Barmah comes to us to prove its friendship. Finally in Laos, where we have not yet finished our scientific missions and our merchants continue to penetrate, France is known and liked.
The English: have, at Calcutta a Viceroy whose existence does not prevent that of Presidents or Rajahs; we also want in Indo-China a representative who can cen- tralise and unite our action.
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