Even the French are surprised by the…

Even the French are surprised by the ease with which the Vietnamese agree to the humiliating treaty.

Why, after successfully resisting invasions by the Chinese for the previous nine hundred years, does the monarchy give in so readily to French demands?

Aside from the seriousness of the loss of Saigon and the possible overestimation of French strength, it appears that the isolation of the monarchy from the people created by decades of repression prevents Tu Duc and his court from attempting to rally the necessary popular support to drive out the French.

In fact, by placating the French in the south, Tu Duc hopes to free his forces to put down a widespread Christian-supported rebellion in Bac Bo, which he indeed crushes by 1865.

French missionaries, who have urged their government to support this rebellion, are disillusioned when it does not succeed, especially after thousands of Christians are slaughtered by Tu Duc's forces following the rebellion.

The missionaries, however, served only as an initial excuse for French intervention in Vietnam; military and economic interests soon became the primary reasons for remaining here.