Viet Nam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes under French colony period
Since the conclusion of the Treaty of Hue on June 6th, 1884, France had represented Viet Nam in all of its territorial integrity. Relating land border between Viet Nam and China, in 1887, France signed the Convention with Qing Dynasty; in 1895, France signed the supplementary Convention with Qing Dynasty. Within the framework of those commitments, Viet Nam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes was exercised by France. That sovereignty exercise is clearly illustrated with numerous examples of which some are listed below.
The French battleships often patrolled in the East Sea, including the areas of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes.
In 1899, Paul Doumer, the then Governor-General of Indochina, sent a proposal to Paris for building a lighthouse on Hoang Sa island within Hoang Sa archipelago to guide ships in the area.
The plan, however, was not implemented due to budget issue.
Since 1920, the Institute of Oceanography in Nha Trang sent the ship De Lanessan for an oceanography survey in Hoang Sa archipelago. In addition to A. Krempf, the then Institute's Director, other researchers including Delacour and Jabouille also join the trip for their geological and biological research and other studies. Also in 1925, the Minister of Military Affairs Than Trong Hue of the Imperial Court reaffirmed that Hoang Sa archipelago is within Viet Nam's territory.
In 1927, the ship De Lanessan went to Hoang Sa archipelago for a scientific survey.
In 1929, the Pierre de Rouville delegation proposed that four lighthouses to be set up at four corners of Hoang Sa archipelago, namely Tri Ton (Triton) and Linh Con (Lincoln) islands, and Da Bac (the North) and Bong Bay reefs (Bombay).
In 1930, the gunboat La Malicieuse went to Hoang Sa archipelago.
In March 1931, the ship Inconstant went to Hoang Sa archipelago.
In June 1931, the ship De Lanessan went to Hoang Sa archipelago.
In May 1932, the battleship Alerte went to Hoang Sa archipelago.
From April 13th, 1930 to April 12th, 1933, the Government of France deployed the naval units to garrison in major islands of Truong Sa archipelago, namely Truong Sa Lon (Spartly), An Bang (Amboya Cay), Ba Binh (Itu Aba), Song Tu (Group des Deux Iles), Loai Ta (Loaita), and Thi Tu (Thitu).
On December 21st, 1933, the then Governor of Cochinchina M. J. Krautheimer signed the decree of annexing the islands of Truong Sa Lon, An Bang, Ba Binh, Song Tu, Loai Ta, and Thi Tu to Ba Ria province.
In 1937, the French authorities sent a civil engineer named Gauthier to Hoang Sa archipelago to examine the positions for building lighthouses and a seaplane terminal.
In Febbruary 1937, the patrol ship Lamotte Piquet commanded by Rear-Admiral Istava came to Hoang Sa archipelago.
Om March 29th, 1938, Emperor Bao Dai signed the Imperial Edict to split Hoang Sa archipelago from Nam Nghia province and annex them to Thua Thien province.
The Edict reads:
"Considering that Hoang Sa islands (Archipel des iles Paracels) have been for long under the sovereignty of Nuoc Nam, and directly under the province of Nam Nghia during the previous dynasties' time, and that this administration had not been changed until the reign of The to Cao hoang de as all the communications with these islands were carried out via the seaports in the province of Nam Nghia.
Considering that by nautical progress, the communications have changed, and that the Imperial Court's representative who went on an inspection tour with the Protectorate's representative, petitioned to annex those islands to the province of Thua Thien for the sake of convenience;
Orders:
Singel item - To annex Hoang Sa islands (Archipel des iles Paracels) to the province of Thua Thien. In terms of administration, these islands are under the command of the Governor of the province."
On June 15th, 1938, the then Governor-General of Indochina Jules Brévié signed the Decree on Establishing an Administrative Unit in Hoang Sa archipelago under Thua Thien province.
In 1938, France erected a sovereignty stele, completed the constructions of a lighthouse, a meteorological station, a radio station on Hoang Sa (Pattle) island, and a meteorological station and a radio station on Ba Binh island within Hoang Sa archipelago. The inscription on the stele reads: "The French Republic, The Kingdom of An Nam, The Paracel Islands, 1816 - Pattle Island - 1938" (1816 and 1938 are the years of Viet Nam's sovereignty exercise over Hoang Sa archipelago by Emperor Gia Long, and of the French erection of the stele, respectively).
On May 5th, 1939, the Governor-General of Indochina Jules Brévié signed the decree to amend the Decree of June 15th, 1938. The new Decree established two administrative delegations, namely the Delegations of Croissant and its Dependents, and Amphitrite its Dependents.
For the whole time of representing Viet Nam for its external relations, France consistently affirmed the sovereignty of Viet Nam over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, and protested actions that violated this sovereignty. For instance, on December 4th, 1931 and April 24th, 1932, France opposed the Government of China on the intention of the Guangdong provincial authorities to invite bids for exploiting guano on objection on April 4th, 1939 to the Japan's inclusion of some islands within Truong Sa archipelago under its jurisdiction.
The French battleships often patrolled in the East Sea, including the areas of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes.
In 1899, Paul Doumer, the then Governor-General of Indochina, sent a proposal to Paris for building a lighthouse on Hoang Sa island within Hoang Sa archipelago to guide ships in the area.
The plan, however, was not implemented due to budget issue.
Since 1920, the Institute of Oceanography in Nha Trang sent the ship De Lanessan for an oceanography survey in Hoang Sa archipelago. In addition to A. Krempf, the then Institute's Director, other researchers including Delacour and Jabouille also join the trip for their geological and biological research and other studies. Also in 1925, the Minister of Military Affairs Than Trong Hue of the Imperial Court reaffirmed that Hoang Sa archipelago is within Viet Nam's territory.
In 1927, the ship De Lanessan went to Hoang Sa archipelago for a scientific survey.
In 1929, the Pierre de Rouville delegation proposed that four lighthouses to be set up at four corners of Hoang Sa archipelago, namely Tri Ton (Triton) and Linh Con (Lincoln) islands, and Da Bac (the North) and Bong Bay reefs (Bombay).
In 1930, the gunboat La Malicieuse went to Hoang Sa archipelago.
In March 1931, the ship Inconstant went to Hoang Sa archipelago.
In June 1931, the ship De Lanessan went to Hoang Sa archipelago.
In May 1932, the battleship Alerte went to Hoang Sa archipelago.
From April 13th, 1930 to April 12th, 1933, the Government of France deployed the naval units to garrison in major islands of Truong Sa archipelago, namely Truong Sa Lon (Spartly), An Bang (Amboya Cay), Ba Binh (Itu Aba), Song Tu (Group des Deux Iles), Loai Ta (Loaita), and Thi Tu (Thitu).
On December 21st, 1933, the then Governor of Cochinchina M. J. Krautheimer signed the decree of annexing the islands of Truong Sa Lon, An Bang, Ba Binh, Song Tu, Loai Ta, and Thi Tu to Ba Ria province.
In 1937, the French authorities sent a civil engineer named Gauthier to Hoang Sa archipelago to examine the positions for building lighthouses and a seaplane terminal.
In Febbruary 1937, the patrol ship Lamotte Piquet commanded by Rear-Admiral Istava came to Hoang Sa archipelago.
Om March 29th, 1938, Emperor Bao Dai signed the Imperial Edict to split Hoang Sa archipelago from Nam Nghia province and annex them to Thua Thien province.
The Edict reads:
"Considering that Hoang Sa islands (Archipel des iles Paracels) have been for long under the sovereignty of Nuoc Nam, and directly under the province of Nam Nghia during the previous dynasties' time, and that this administration had not been changed until the reign of The to Cao hoang de as all the communications with these islands were carried out via the seaports in the province of Nam Nghia.
Considering that by nautical progress, the communications have changed, and that the Imperial Court's representative who went on an inspection tour with the Protectorate's representative, petitioned to annex those islands to the province of Thua Thien for the sake of convenience;
Orders:
Singel item - To annex Hoang Sa islands (Archipel des iles Paracels) to the province of Thua Thien. In terms of administration, these islands are under the command of the Governor of the province."
On June 15th, 1938, the then Governor-General of Indochina Jules Brévié signed the Decree on Establishing an Administrative Unit in Hoang Sa archipelago under Thua Thien province.
In 1938, France erected a sovereignty stele, completed the constructions of a lighthouse, a meteorological station, a radio station on Hoang Sa (Pattle) island, and a meteorological station and a radio station on Ba Binh island within Hoang Sa archipelago. The inscription on the stele reads: "The French Republic, The Kingdom of An Nam, The Paracel Islands, 1816 - Pattle Island - 1938" (1816 and 1938 are the years of Viet Nam's sovereignty exercise over Hoang Sa archipelago by Emperor Gia Long, and of the French erection of the stele, respectively).
On May 5th, 1939, the Governor-General of Indochina Jules Brévié signed the decree to amend the Decree of June 15th, 1938. The new Decree established two administrative delegations, namely the Delegations of Croissant and its Dependents, and Amphitrite its Dependents.
For the whole time of representing Viet Nam for its external relations, France consistently affirmed the sovereignty of Viet Nam over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, and protested actions that violated this sovereignty. For instance, on December 4th, 1931 and April 24th, 1932, France opposed the Government of China on the intention of the Guangdong provincial authorities to invite bids for exploiting guano on objection on April 4th, 1939 to the Japan's inclusion of some islands within Truong Sa archipelago under its jurisdiction.
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