Document 1: Letter from Hoang Cao Khai

The subject I should now like to introduce is the suffering imposed upon our country. At the time when the capital was lost and after the royal carriage had departed, you courageously answered the appeals of the King by raising the banner of righteousness [and continue fighting the French]. It was certainly the only thing to do in those circumstances. No one will question that.

Until now, your actions have undoubtedly accorded with your loyalty. May I ask however what sin our people have committed to deserve so much hardship?... As of now, hundreds of families are subject to grief; how do you have the heart to fight on? I venture to predict that, should you pursue your struggle, not only will the population of our village be destroyed but our entire country will be transformed into a sea of blood and a mountain of bones. It is my hope that men of your superior morality and honesty will pause a while to appraise the situation.

Portions of a letter from Hoang Cao Khai to Phan Dinh Phung [1]

 


Page Notes:

[1] Source: Adapted from Patterns of Vietnamese Response to Foreign Intervention, 1858-1900 by Truong Buu Lam (New Haven: Yale University, 1967) p. 122-127.

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