[Translation.]
Señor Romero to Mr. Seward
Mexican Legation in the United
States of America, Washington, October 5,
1866.
Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to communicate
to you, for the information of the government of the United States, the
copy of a communication which I received to-day from General Regules,
chief of the army of the centre of the Mexican republic, dated in
Zitacuaro the 9th of August last, reporting his movements up to that
date, and the conduct of the French forces in the State of Michoacan. I
also enclose a copy of my answer to-day to General Regules.
I profit by this occasion to renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the assurances
of my most distinguished consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., & c., & c.
No. 1.
Mexican Republic, army of the centre–General-in-chief.
In a private despatch which I sent you on the 30th ultimo from the
Tiripitio hacienda, I had the honor to inform you of the enemy’s
movement upon me, forcing me to evacuate Zitacuaro, his occupation
and retirement, and my return on the 1st instant. I remained here
till the 7th, when I determined to make a movement upon Anganguco,
garrisoned by only four hundred traitors, but had to give up the
idea because I heard that eight hundred French, on their way from
Queretaro to Toluca by Morelia, had gone to San Felipe del Obraje to
defend
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it. And, in fact,
the French did reach Anganguco yesterday, with about five hundred
traitors picked up from the neighboring detachments, and to-day
marched upon this place, which I regret to be obliged to give up
once more, because I have neither sufficient forces nor munitions to
defend it.
You will perhaps think it strange that I call your attention to such
trivial circumstances, quite natural in our warfare, where the enemy
is not only striving to defend places that I threaten, but is
struggling in his turn to seize those that I hold; but you must know
what I do is of great importance, when you consider that the
expedition sent against me is mostly composed of French troops
commanded by French officers.
When the French declared they had not come to Mexico to interfere
with the internal affairs of the country, but only to force respect
for treaties violated by the government of the republic, and to
protect the interests of their fellow-citizens; and now, as that had
been effected, they determined to withdraw their troops, considering
the expedition at an end, I cannot understand how and with what
right they continue to make war on people who are opposing the
government of the usurper, Maximilian, and give aid to places
occupied by traitors who sustain him.
Such outrageous conduct, without provocation, (for my forces have
never yet attacked them,) compels me to make it known to you,
because it shows the absolute want of loyalty in the French
government, the meanness it makes use of to deceive the world,
particularly the United States, to which you are accredited.
I hope, therefore, you will make a proper use of the facts I here
communicate with the government at Washington and the supreme
government of the republic, and will tell me, in your reply, what
conduct I ought to pursue. In the mean time it is understood that I
will continue to sustain the rights of Mexico against domestic or
foreign foes on all occasions, except when I am certain of
defeat.
I protest to you my attentive consideration.
Independence and liberty!
Headquarters at Zitacuaro, August 9,
1866.
N. DE REGULES.
C. Matias Romero, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Mexican Republic in
Washington.
No. 2.
[Untitled]
Mexican Legation of the United
States of America, Washington, October 5,
1866.
I had the honor of receiving to-day your communication of the 9th of
August last, from Zitacuaro, in which you inform me of the movements
you had made up to that time with the forces under your command, and
of the conduct of the French forces that were marching from
Queretaro to Toluca, by way of Morelia, having fallen back from San
Felipe del Obraje to Anganguco to aid a body of traitors in the
latter place, which they heard you were going to attack.
This circumstance, and the French afterwards going from Anganguco to
Zitacuaro to attack you, (after their government had assured the
United States, as long ago as the 5th of April last, that it would
return to the principle of non-intervention, and would withdraw its
troops from the republic,) show that the French government has acted
with notorious disloyalty, inasmuch as, while saying one thing in
its diplomatic notes, it authorizes its soldiers to do the
contrary.
For these reasons you request me to communicate the above facts to
the government of the United States and to the supreme government of
the republic, and to advise you how to act in view of the
circumstances.
In reply, I have the honor to inform you that, in accordance with
your wishes, and believing the nature of the case requires it, I
this day transmit your note to the ministry of foreign relations of
the republic and to the Department of State of the United States.
Furthermore, I must inform you that, as the French government has
made no engagement with ours to withdraw its troops, or to return to
the principle of non-intervention, it is not bound to us, and we are
under no obligations to it. The war between Mexico and France is the
same, as it relates to us, as it was before the arrangement between
the French government and the United States; and our duty now, as it
always has been, is to continue the contest to the extent of our
abilities, without trying to effect a truce with the French army,
which, in reality, has no existence.
The engagements of the French government are with the United States
and have nothing to do with our government; yet, as the government
of the republic is on friendly terms with that of the United States,
I think it would be, at least, an act of courtesy on our part to
communicate to it all information we may have in regard to the
course followed by the French in Mexico, with a view that it may
make a proper use of such information in accordance with its sense
of honor and its interest; but we have no right to demand anything
of it.
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I am sorry to say to you that I have not yet received the
communication you mention to have addressed to me from the hacienda
of Tiripitio, on the 31st of July last. The previous one I received,
before the one I am now answering, is dated Zitacuaro, the 12th of
July.
For these reasons I repeat to you the assurance of my distinguished
consideration.
C. General Nicolas de Regules, Chief of the Army of the Centre.
