Charles Auguste Frédéric Bégin

Bégin was promoted to Brigadier General on 24 December 1881. He was appointed assistant inspector general of his army, and made Commander of the Legion of Honour. On 20 March 1885 he was appointed senior commander of Cochinchina.^[2] Bégin was Acting Governor of Cochinchina from 27 July 1885 to 19 June 1886. He replaced the abrasive Charles Thomson, who had expanded the French role in Cambodia.^[4] Bégin disliked Thomson's policies, and maneuvered to ensure that Thomson did not return.^[5] On 28 October 1885 he wrote,

Norodom was humiliated and abused. A very hard treaty was imposed on him by force... The Queen Mother, for whom he professes deep respect and filial piety, would not have not forgiven him for accepting without struggle the humiliation we imposed ... even admitting the implicit guilt of the King, one cannot think now of deposing him. We must avoid touching the edifice, because the mandarins will take the opportunity to again push the people to revolt, telling him that we want to overturn everything ... We must live with the evil and avoid any further irritation ... The first requirement is to place beside the King, both in Cambodia and in Cochinchina, men who did not take part in the events of 17 June. Norodom will never pardon Mr. Thomson for having humiliated and abused him in the presence of his Ministers and of his Court.^[6]

Bégin recruited Cambodians to form a regiment of colonial soldiers. He was succeeded by Ange Michel Filippini.^[4]

Bégin returned to France to act as Inspector for a short period before returning to Saigon in November 1887 as commander in chief of the troops of French Indochina.^[2] The French government at this time was concerned about the costs of military operations in Indochina, and favoured creation of militia forces, which cost far less than regular troops since they had fewer European troops and did not require barracks. Neyret, the Resident of Hải Dương, showed that a well-armed militia that was active in gathering intelligence could be effective in combating bandits.^[7] The army responded by accusing Neyret of hiding intelligence from the army.^[8] Neyret in turn accused the 4th Regiment de Tirailleurs Tonkinois, which had been recruited in Hai Duong, of having sold arms to the rebels. Begin demanded an inquiry, showed that Neyret had no evidence for his accusation, and asked for his transfer. The Governor General of French Indochina, Jean Antoine Ernest Constans, responded that Neyret had only been doing his duty and perhaps the regiment should be transferred instead.^[9]

A few days later Constans was recalled to France and was replaced by Étienne Richaud as acting governor. Richaud was more sympathetic to the army, and defined its role as being to repel attacks and suppress rebellion, while that of the militias was to maintain the peace through police action.^[9] Bégin agreed with a proposal by Richaud, who held office from April 1888 to May 1889, for collaboration between the army and civilians. The military commanders would try to gain support from the local people for the imperialist process of pacification.^[10] The effective strength of Begin's forces was much lower than the paper numbers, in part due to the demands of special services, but mostly due to sickness, with large numbers dying, in hospital or repatriated. In 1888 Begin estimated that in order to have 8,000 active European riflemen he needed a nominal force of 15,000.^[11] In July 1888 Begin gave high praise to a detailed plan for pacifying the northern cantons submitted by Auguste Pavie.^[12] He wrote,

The monograph that you have addressed to me ... is a geographic and political document of the highest importance. It details the region from Luang Prabang to the Black River, which was totally unknown until now ... as well as the roads that traverse it and can be used for our trade in a near future... You have intended, through your own efforts, to bring in French influence in this region that is much coveted by a neighboring power and is occupied by the Chinese pirate bands that we have thrown out of Tonkin."^[12]

Bégin returned to France in July 1889 as Deputy Inspector General of his army, and on 29 December 1889 was appointed Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.^[2] He was promoted to Divisional General on 10 October 1891. On 1 January 1892 he was Deputy Inspector General and a member of the technical committee of inspectors general of naval troops.^[3] On 1 January 1894 he was Inspector General and a president of the technical committee of inspectors general of naval troops, holding this position until 1899.^[3]

Bégin retired on 1 June 1899.^[3] On 6 June 1899 he was given the rank of Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.^[2] Begin died on 27 July 1901 in Pleumeur-Bodou, Côtes-d'Armor.^[3]