Mr. Hay to Mr. Seward
Sir: According to a suggestion of Mr. Bigelow, who is spending some days with his family at Ems, I called yesterday upon the minister of foreign affairs. I spoke to his excellency of the reports which were currently published in the journals of Paris in reference to the visit of the Princess Charlotte to France—these reports stating that the stay of Maximilian in Mexico had become conditional upon a modification of the course of action adopted by the French government, and announced in his excellency’s recent communications to the Marquis de Montholon and to Mr. Bigelow; several journals further intimating that the princess had succeeded in obtaining a change of that programme. I asked the minister if there had been any modification, or if there were any intended, of the policy of the Emperor’s government toward Mexico, heretofore declared.
He replied, “there had been no modification of our policy in that matter, and there is to be none. What we announced our intention to do we will do. Of [Page 338] course,” he added, “we received the empress with courtesy and cordiality, but the plan heretofore determined upon by the Emperor’s government will be executed in the way we announced. ”
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I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.