French imperialism, like all imperialisms, functions as a state of war in Vietnam. The background to 1930’s Yên Bái rebellion.

‘French “Civilisation” in Indo-China’ by A.F. from International Press Correspondence. Vol. 7 No. 12. February 4, 1927.

French “civilisation” in Indo-China finds expression in various directions; in the first place through shameless exploitation of the native population. The poor peasants of Annam and Cambodia have their land taken from them without any consideration. In doing so, the most shameless corruption is practised. The same methods are applied in Cochin China. No less than 115,000 hectars of land have been taken from the natives there, and it is calculated that this area will be increased to 200,000 hectars in a few years.

All strata of the colonial carriers of “civilisation” take part in this robbery. At their head of course, march the highest officials who represent the imperialism of France in those colonies. Dr. Cognacq, Governor of Cochin China, has been openly accused in the Colonial Council, of having distorted, falsified and stolen the minutes of the Council. Another high official, Sabatier, the Provincial Resident, has introduced a wild arbitrary rule in order to carry out his plans, as a result of which the prisons are overcrowded and innumerable death sentences, which up to then had been unknown, have been passed and executed.

On the return of Bui Queng-Chieu, the nationalist leader, who, in the meantime had become a notorious compromiser, the Annamite riflemen were disarmed, whilst numerous machine guns were kept in readiness to turn against the enormous crowds who had assembled to welcome him. On the occasion of the trial of two young Annamite journalists, the military, gendarmerie, militia, town police and secret police were mobilised. The natives were simply forbidden to enter several quarters of the town of Saigon.

No faith is any longer placed in the French soldiers, and still less of course in the Annamite soldiers. Senegalese troops were introduced into the colony; they were forbidden to associate with the native population. Lest the African soldiers who have been introduced, should come to an understanding with the Asiatic population that French imperialism is their common enemy, a regular propaganda of hatred and division is carried on between the black soldiers and the yellow natives.

Since the arrival of the “Socialist” Varenne, who has been nominated Governor, from, France, arms and war material are constantly coming into the country from France. Several of the transports, which were to bring these tools of “civilisation” to Indo-China, have been destroyed by explosions.

The worst terror prevails uninterruptedly in all parts of Indo-China, in Cochin China, Cambodia, Annam and Tonkin. Wholesale arrests are the order of the day. The students, a number of whom are trying to continue their studies abroad, as the schools in the colonies have been closed to them since the great strike of students, are persecuted particularly cruelly.

A number of French colonies, such as the Island of Reunion near the large island of Madagascar on the East coast of Africa, and the island of New Caledonia, West of Australia, have been quickly depopulated by alcohol and serfdom. The colonists have therefore no hands to work on their plantations and ask the Government of Cochin China for workers, a demand which is granted. Thus we frequently read reports such as that 2000 workers have been granted permission to emigrate to the Island of Réunion, or more than 500 to New Caledonia, which latter had a population of 62,000 inhabitants in 1875, while its population has now decreased to 27,000 thanks to French “civilisation”.

The emigration of the workers is of course as “voluntary”, as was at the time the transport of “volunteers” from Indo- China to the battle-fields of Europe and recently to Morocco and Syria. We often hear of the departure, but seldom of the return of these “volunteers”, who are forced to leave their country. At present there are, in round figures, 6000 “volunteers” from Tonkin in New Caledonia.

After more than 60 years of French occupation of China, schooling in Indo-China is still on a very low level. No skilled workers are trained. On the other hand, there are in Indo-China, 2000 places where alcohol and opium are sold to 10 schools. In 1924, Indo-China, with its 20 millions inhabitants, only had 213,977 children attending school and 4,193 native teachers, whereas even in the Philippines, kept under the yoke of the imperialism of the United States, there were 1,128,977 children attending school and 25,451 native teachers among the 10 million inhabitants. In Indo-China there is not only a lack of schools, but those which exist are very inferior.

The extent to which corruption exists in Indo-China, can also be seen from the confessions of “L’Impartial”, the organ of French Fascism in Indo-China, to the effect that Governor Cognacq has been guilty of a number of acts of corruption. The “Socialist” Varenne is also taking a keen part in the corruption, and a few months after his arrival in Indo-China, be sent 74 packing cases of presents, weighing 4,910 kilos and measuring 30 cubic meters, to France.

The incapability and unscrupulousness of the administration of Tonkin was responsible for having blown up a dam in order to protect the town of Hanoi, the seat of the French, without having informed the inhabitants in time, so that no less than 20,000 inhabitants of the villages lost their lives. The Press was forbidden to report this criminal act.

International Press Correspondence, widely known as”Inprecorr” was published by the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI) regularly in German and English, occasionally in many other languages, beginning in 1921 and lasting in English until 1938. Inprecorr’s role was to supply translated articles to the English-speaking press of the International from the Comintern’s different sections, as well as news and statements from the ECCI. Many ‘Daily Worker’ and ‘Communist’ articles originated in Inprecorr, and it also published articles by American comrades for use in other countries. It was published at least weekly, and often thrice weekly.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/international/comintern/inprecor/1927/v07n12-feb-04-1927-inprecor-op.pdf