[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.
[Translation.]
Mr. Cazotte 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, 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
[Page 730]
Guayamas 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.
