6
cultivated them as well as native methods would allow, and obtained fairly good crops. The French writer quoted above has calculated that while European colonists, during a period of ten years, put under cultivation only 67,000 acres of rice, natives have in three years in the single Province of Tanan cleared 173,000 acres. Again, in 1900 in the "arrondissement" of Sadu 27,000 acres were conceded to natives, and the whole of that area was in full production in three years' time. Such facts us these go prove that, while the attempt to plant French settlers in the interior has been on the whole a failure, colonization of the interior by natives would seem to offer every prospect of success.
to
2. Failure of the "Métayage" System.
The small proportion of French settlers remaining on their concessions have now been threatened with further disappointments, this time from difficulties in the labour world, which must either bankrupt them or compel them to leave their concessions. The crisis has arisen owing to that system of obtaining labour, the "métayage," from which at first the best results were expected, but which now proves absolutely unsuited to the conditions of the country. The "métayage," as is well known, is an association between the proprietor of the land and the cultivator, by which the former furnishes animals and instruments, and the latter his labour, both dividing the profits. This form of exploitation, which has been in great favour in Tonquin, Annam, and Cochin. China, has at last completely broken down owing partly to the bad faith of the native métayers," partly apparently to over-indulgence to natives in French Courts of Justice, and partly to the ignorance and inexperience of many of the planters.
The first settlers who used this system knew the natives, their language, and their character, while the natives then employed were those who had lately cultivated the ground and had left it only owing to the troubles of the period; they had there- fore a lively sense of protection received from their employer. To the first colonists succeeded others less experienced, who, having unscrupulous intermediaries for obtaining "métayers," surrounded themselves with the dregs of the population, while the "métayers," grown accustomed to peace, looked on the colonists as usurpers of land which ought to belong to themselves, and frequently combined to refuse to give the colonist the harvest due to him, or else, having received an advance, decamped at the first opportunity. Writers in various Indo-Chinese journals complain of the appli- cation to the native, without modification, of the French Penal Code, and of the fact that appeals to Courts of Justice are usually in vain.
As a matter of fact, the Administration hesitates to adopt severe measures towards the natives. The Government, it is said, might well take action against one, two, or ten recalcitrant "métayers," but it cannot, without provoking troubles of which it reasonably hesitates to undertake the responsibility, take measures against 300 or 400 families-often more-which certain Europeans have grouped on their concessions if these 400 families have arrived at an understanding to refuse the payment of the "redevance" to the colonist.
3. The Buying Back of Concessions.
There have been only two solutions of the question offered: either (1) a complete remodelling of Trench justice as applied to natives, or (2) the buying back of the concessions from the colonists. The first of these alternatives seems to be shirked in view of the protests which would be "sure to come from philanthropists and humani- tarians at home," and there remains only liquidation. This latter is the policy which M. Bean appears lately to have approved. Recently it was announced that the Administration had concluded an Agreement with one of the most prominent colonists in Tonquin, by the terms of which the latter's estate will be divided among tho villages existing on or neighbouring to the concession, the villages having engaged to pay its price in ten years. This measure, which will no doubt become general, permits of natives re-entering into possession of lands on which they had ancient rights without its costing them anything but the over-value given to these lands by the capital expended on them by the colonists. The colonists, from what one can learn in the newspapers, seem willing enough to disencumber themselves of a property which has become a source of loss to them, provided they get a reasonable price for it.
7
As a sequel to the crisis evolved by the inherent weaknesses of the "métayage" system in Indo-China, it is now reported that M. Beau has suspended the granting of any more concessions to Europeans. This measure will, of course, destroy the hopes formerly entertained of settling French colonists in the interior; on the other hand, it is expected, and the expectation would seem justifiable, that under native ownership and under French protection a much larger extent of country will be brought under cultivation than when the concessionnaires were Europeans.
III.The Defences of Indo-China.
1. Recent Improvements.
344
Some improvement is reported during the last year in the military and naval defences of the Colony; but there appears to be still a great deal requiring to be done, and the bare possibility of Japanese invasion, as forecast by colonial news- papers, has awakened the authorities at home to the necessity of giving ear to the repeated demands made by the Colony for more effective defences.
Saigon, with its arsenal, which hitherto had been practically unprotected, is now being strongly fortified. In the same way Cape St. James, which, until recently, could not have defended itself against a night attack, has, it is said, been provided with the necessary equipment for firing by night.
The troops in the Colony have been reinforced. In Cochin-China the strength of the European troops has been raised from 3,000 to 5,000, and that of the natives from 2,500 to 4,550. In Cambodia two additional native companies have been recruited locally. In Tonquin have been added three battalions of frontier chasseurs, while the reserve brigade has been reinforced by a European battalion and a battery.
System has now been introduced into the grouping of the various units of defence round their respective centres, so that mobilization, which previously required a month, can now, according to M. Beau, be effected in eight days.
The officer responsible for most of these improvements, General Coronat, left the Colony in December 1904 on the expiry of his period of service. He has been replaced by General Chevallier.
The Tonquin papers were concerned about the expediency of a measure which was carried out some months ago by the military authorities, namely, the withdrawal of all troops from the immense region of the Upper Songkau, and from the posts on the great military road between Thai-Nguyen and Cao Bang-a distance of 134 miles→→ into the Delta. Only a few police stationed at intervals of 15-18 miles were left to insure the protection of the country.
As regards maritime defence, Along Bay, near Haiphong, in which until lately a hostile fleet could safely anchor and attack the shore, is being provided with a mobile defence.
An effort is being made at Cape St. James to complete the work of making it a naval base, while a similar base is projected for Fort Courbet.
2. French Criticism of Maritime Defences.
An interesting article appeared in the "Bulletin du Comité de l'Asie Française" for February 1905, by a writer who signed himself Xieng-la, a summary of which may not be out of place here. The writer deals only with the maritime forces, which he divides into four groups, and analyzes the value of the separate constituents of each group as follows:-
(1.) The Far Eastern Fleet.
(a.) Three armoured cruisers, including the "Sully," which is badly aground in Along Bay.
(b.) Three protected cruisers.
(c) Gun-boats, of little fighting value, average 7 to 8 knots; the "Surprise" docs 10 knots.
[2180 m-1
-1]
D
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.