I accept the opportunity to renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the assurances
of my most distinguished consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
[Translation.]
MEXICAN REPUBLIC, HEADQUARTERS OF THE EASTERN
LINE—SECOND GENERAL-IN-CHIEF.
Amatlan,
June 15, 1866.
Citzen Minister: I report to-day to the
citizen minister of foreign relations of the republic as
follows:
“I recently received a printed correspondence (No. 7) from the
Mexican legation in the United States of America, dated Washington,
26th of April last, in which our minister plenipotentiary, citizen
Matias Romero, sends a translated copy of the principal documents
sent by the President of the United States to the 39th Congress, at
the request of the House of Representatives, in relation to the
Mexican question.
“As I do not doubt the authenticity of the correspondence,
considering its source, nor the correctness of the translation of
the documents quoted, as they are certified by the secretary of the
Mexican legation, citizen Ignacio Mariscal, I beg leave to call the
attention of the supreme government to the contradiction between
some declarations of those documents and certain facts transpiring
in this part of the republic, under my command, so that you may
communicate them to the President of the republic, to be acted on as
he may think best.
“In note No. 17, addressed by Mr. Seward to Marquis Montholon on the
12th of February last, analyzing Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys’s of the 9th of
January, among other things the following words of the French
minister are quoted:
“‘On the other hand, we admit as well as they [the United States] the
principle of non-intervention. From this moment we return to our
principle of non-intervention, and we accept it as a rule of
conduct.’
“This was said by the French minister to the American minister on the
9th of January. Now, I take the liberty of pointing out to you the
contradiction that is working here on this line between facts and
the official promise, so that the government of the republic may not
fail to know it, on account of its great distance from these
regions.
“The so-called imperial government sent an armed expedition here in
March last to conquer the coast towns that have continued to obey
the republican government.
“The expedition of infantry and cavalry would never have succeeded in
getting as it did but for the aid of the French war steamers
Tempête, Diligente, Pique, and Tactique, and one other I have
forgotten.
“These five steamers, with French flags and four hundred men,
infantry and marines, came up to Tlacotalpam on the 24th of March,
while the imperial troops went round by Omealca, forcing me to
evacuate that place, the seat of government and headquarters of the
eastern line, with the few loyal forces that garrisoned it.
“Soon afterwards I collected all the loyal Mexican troops in the
State, and laid siege to Tlacotalpam to recover it from the Mexican
traitors who held it, aided by the five French vessels, that
continued to cannonade us so vigorously we could not retake it.
“I must here add that on the attack of the 6th, when our soldiers had
already penetrated some of the streets, and were threatening
Zaragoza square, into which we had forced the enemy, the French
vessels, knowing we had no artillery, began to bombard the town, and
did much damage to the houses and harmless inhabitants.
“Besides these acts, which are daily repeated, there are others not
less flagrant in Vera Cruz, where the French packet arrived on the
10th instant with five hundred soldiers for the army of the
so-called empire, that landed in the city and immediately set out
for Mexico.
“From this, citizen minister, you will learn that the French are not
practicing intervention in this country, and you will please so
inform the President of the republic that he may act in the case as
he thinks proper.”
All of which I transcribe for your information and proper action.
Citizen Matias Romero, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the Republic in the United States of
America, Washington City.
