Mr. Seward to Mr. Geofroy
Sir: Your note from Montreal, of the 23d, was received here on the 26th instant.
When I saw the earlier newspaper reports of an alleged entrance of General Cortinas within the territory of the United States, I deemed them improbable and unreliable. The only official information upon the subject which has been received is a statement contained in a report made by Major General Canby to the Secretary of War. Upon receiving that statement I immediately transmitted to Mr. Dayton a despatch containing the same statement, of which I now give you a copy for your information. Subsequent newspaper publications discredit the original rumors in the most essential parts; the latter, however, like the first, are vague and unsatisfactory. I have, therefore, addressed myself, through the War Department, to Major General Canby, and requested a full statement of the facts, and at the same time, although deeming it quite unnecessary, I have, by command of the President, renewed the injunction heretofore given, that the military forces of the United States must neither commit, nor suffer within the jurisdiction of the United States, any violation of the neutrality of this government in the conflict now going on in Mexico.
Accept, sir, the assurance of my very high consideration.
Mr. de Geofroy, &c., &c., &c.