ABSTRACT
The Franco-Prussian war had broken out just when Garnier was basking in the glory of his Mekong exploration. Hue, having given up hope of the Admiral’s intervention against Dupuis, had decided to send an embassy to Paris, and the envoys were at hand to embark for Europe. It was an occasion not to be missed. Naturally, the mandarins were entertained with the consideration their status deserved, and over a convivial glass of champagne they made no secret of the fact that their government was unable to bring Dupuis to order. Word of Garnier’s seizure of the citadel at Hanoi reached Saigon at the end of November, and was received by Admiral Dupre with mixed feelings. On the other hand there were the formal orders from Paris, expressed frequently and in the plainest possible terms, that on no account must the French government be committed to intervention in Tongking.
