Mr. Seward to Mr. Hale.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your despatch dated November 16th, 1865, and also a copy of certain correspondence which you have had with the minister of foreign affairs of his Highness the Pacha, upon the subject of an apprehended renewal of the expedition from Alexandria of Nubian negroes to be engaged on the part of France in the war waged between that country and Mexico. The only result of the correspondence seems to be, that the Egyptian government still holds the question open for further consideration, while it expresses a desire that the United States may be content with an ultimate embarcation of such belligerents, if it shall be insisted upon by the Pacha. Simultaneously with these papers I have received, through Mr. Bigelow, our representative in Paris, an assurance from Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to the effect that the imperial determination against the embarcation of Egyptian forces to join the French army in Mexico, which had before been announced to us, remains unchanged. The President is of opinion that we may properly rely upon this assurance of Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys. In that view of the case there is no necessity for your continuing your discussion with the Egyptian minister of foreign affairs. It may nevertheless happen that the assurance referred to is unauthorized, or may be retracted. If such correction or retraction should occur, contrary to our present expectation, then it will be proper for you in that case to inform the minister for foreign affairs that the United States protest against any embarcation of negro troops or forces to be engaged in hostilities against the government or people of Mexico, whatever may be the special character of the levies or the circumstances under which the expedition is to be made. In the opinion of the President, negroes, natives of Africa, cannot rightfully be employed as soldiers in any way to subvert established political institutions, or disturb society on the American continent.
For your information I give you a copy* of the assurance of Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to which I have referred. I also give a copy of this despatch to Mr. Bigelow, that its contents may be communicated to the French government, if it should become necessary, or withheld if the assurances of Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys should be confirmed. I give a copy of the same also to Mr. Morris, at Constantinople, to be communicated to the Sultan or not, as circumstances shall require. It may be as well for you to enquire of Mr. Bigelow by telegram concerning the actual situation of the question at Paris before making any further communication to the minister of foreign affairs.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Hale, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
- For these enclosures see Diplomatic Correspondence for 1865, Vol. III.↩