[Translation.]
Mr. Geofroy to Mr. Seward
Legation of France to the United
States,
Washington,
July 8, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to communicate to you the
extract from the despatch of his Majesty’s consul at San Francisco,
which points out to me shipments of powder and arms to Mexico, which
would take place from California, at the instigation of an agent of
Juarez, named Vega, and I beg your excellency will be so good as to
address to the authorities of that State orders analogous to those which
stopped in Louisiana movements of the like nature.
Accept, sir, the assurance of my high consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c, &c., &c.
[Translation.]
Mr. Cazette to Mr. Geofroy
San Francisco,
June 10, 1864.
Since the departure of Mr. James, collector of the customs at San
Francisco, the deputy collector, who replaced him, Mr. Cushman, has
the air of receiving with great earnestness my communications for
hindering the shipment of arms, gunpowder, and articles contraband
of war, destined for Mexican ports, but the sum of it is, that he
does nothing to stop them.
There is here a Mexican general, named De Vega, who has come with
money to get ready armaments in favor of ex-President Juarez; he
purchases small vessels, loads them with arms and gunpowder, and
applies at the custom-house,
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through his agents, to clear these vessels for the river
Colorado, where there are several American settlements. In this
manner the vessels get away with the permission of the custom-house,
and under any pretext touch at some points on the Mexican coast,
where they land their cargoes. Thus, quite lately, the American
schooner Potter, cleared on these conditions, put ashore at Guaymas
2,500 barrels of gunpowder and fire-arms. I complain bitterly of
these subterfuges to the local authorities. I ask the deputy
collector to exact security from the fitters out of vessels laden
with articles contraband of war, and cleared for the American ports
on the banks of the Colorado; he promises me mountains and miracles,
but I do not obtain from him any positive result. The chief of
police only, Mr. Burke, actively seconds my investigations.
