Lyautey's doctrine of protectorate was formed during his early colonial career from 1894 to 1902. He became a partisan of the « politique d'association » based on indirecte rule, and which meant involving the native population in the administration of the colonies. In Indochina, from 1894 to 1897, he was influenced by the policy of the General Governor Lanessan, and became acquainted with authors such as Chailley-Bert and Harmand who were the propagandists of the « politique d'association ». In Madagascar, from 1 897 to 1899, Lyautey tried to apply locally such a policy of indirect rule. In the territory he was commanding, he began organizing small protectorates with the Sakalava kingdoms of the western coast. Such a policy of « protectorats interieurs » was to be developed by Lyautey from 1900 to 1902 in the South of the Island.