Jonn Beck, Global History Teacher
New Rochelle High School, NY

Scenario:
The year is 1900 and you are the President of France's most trusted foreign policy advisor. The president must decide whether or not France should continue funding/protecting its political, economic, and social/missionary interests in South East Asia. In order to make an intelligent decision, you have met with several leaders of France's business, government, and religious communities. You took notes during those meetings, and now the time has come for you to offer your advice to the President in a concise essay.

"In opening China, the English have secured their presence in East Asia. If we don't commit more resources to get into Southeast Asia now, they or Germany, or even little Belgium might find it ripe for the taking."
-Jules Ferry (French Prime Minister)

"After our humiliating loss of Alsace-Lorraine, France needs a victory to restore pride in the nation."
-Jules Ferry (French Prime Minister)

"Southeast Asia is the ideal colony, it has no end of raw materials (rubber & rice), and would serve as the perfect outlet for our factories finished products."
-Paul Doumer (Governor of Vietnam)

"We have monopolies on Alcohol, Salt, and Opium production there, and are profiting off the cheap labor both in the mines and on the plantations."
-Paul Doumer (Governor of Vietnam)

"Although the Mekong is not navigable to China, a lucrative trade in Chinese silk, tea, and textiles could be carried along the Red River."
-Francis Garnier (French Explorer)

"Just as Rome civilized the barbarians beyond its borders, we too have a duty to extend French culture and religion to the backwards people of the world."
-Paul Doumer (Governor of Vietnam)

"Religion has always been the picklock of imperialism. Let them try to convert the heathens, and when they fail, we shall send in the French Navy to protect them and our political and commercial interests."
-Jules Ferry (French Prime Minister)

"Imperialism is morally bankrupt. It enriches the Capitalists and wastes precious dollars which would be better spent on domestic reforms."
-George Clemenceau (Future Prime Minister of France)

"Remember your History! The Vietnamese have been fighting against foreigners for the last 1000 years. The Trung Sisters committed suicide rather than submit to the Chinese rather than suffer the shame of surrender back in 40A.D. They are still worshiped at temples all over Vietnam today."
-Paul Louis Philastre (French Civil Servant Stationed in Vietnam)

"The extraordinary resistance, sometimes violent, sometimes passive in nature, day by day more hateful, which is opposed to us by all classes of the people, is stronger now than at any time since the conquest. We must open our eyes to Vietnamese nationalism."
-Paul Louis Philastre (French Civil Servant Stationed in Vietnam)

"We have enormous difficulty enforcing our authority as rebels disturb the country everywhere. They appear from nowhere in large numbers, destroy everything and then disappear into nowhere."
-Admiral Bonard (French Commander in Vietnam)

*Note to Teachers
Quotes reflect the views of the aforementioned men but are not taken verbatim. For Exact Quotes see Stanley Karnow's, Vietnam, New York, Penguin Books, 1991.
Jonnbeck@aol.com More lessons on Vietnam on the way.