[Translation.]
Señor Romero to Mr. Seward
Washington,
July 21, 1866.
My Dear Sir: I have the honor to send you some
extracts of two letters received by the last steamer from Vera Cruz, one
of the 29th of June, from the city of Mexico, and the other from Puebla,
dated the 5th instant, containing important information of reported
arrangements lately entered into between the Emperor of the French and
his Mexican. agent, the Austrian ex-Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian. I am
promised to have a copy of the convention therein referred to; as soon
as it reaches me, I will enclose it to you.
This is the information I alluded to in my conversation with you in the
Department of State this morning.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
[Translation.]
* * * * * * *
Here is the substance of the negotiations between Mr. Dano, the
French minister, and Maximilian:
France will leave 20,000 men in Mexico for four years, to be paid out
of the French treasury. They will assume the title of Mexican
soldiers, only changing their flag and uniform. France will
contribute five hundred thousand dollars a month to the deficit of
the civil list. Collection of the revenues will be intrusted
entirely to the French.
Two hundred thousand dollars will be appropriated monthly to the
railroad between Mexico and Vera Cruz, and the road will be
mortgaged for the French debt, the certificates of the last loans
being exchanged for railroad bonds.
Such is the substance of the contract. Troops had begun to march upon
San Luis, and twenty thousand suits of clothing had been contracted
for. The so-called “Cazadores Mejicanos” will continue to wear the
French medals. Bazaine will soon start for San Luis. I understand
that Jeaningros has been ordered to reoccupy Matamoras, at all
hazards. The loss of Matamoras was the cause of mutual recrimination
between Maximilian and Bazaine, and the discord was increased by the
decree revoking the pension granted by the republic to the family of
General Zaragoza, the conqueror of the French at Pueblo.
I will send you a copy of the convention alluded to, by the next
steamer.
* * * * * * *
[Translation.]
Much Esteemed Sir: * * * * * *
Since the promise of France to observe the principles of
non-intervention, it is observed that its army continues to sustain
the government erected in Mexico; and the means resorted to in
sustaining and consolidating the throne seem exceedingly
strange.
Reliable papers from Mexico report that Maximilian has concluded a
convention with Dano, the French minister. Its bases are: That an
army of twenty thousand men, composed of the Austrians and Belgians
now fighting, with the French that are to be disbanded in order to
enter the Mexican service, are to remain. France is to contribute
five hundred thousand dollars a month for four years, and will
supply the deficit of the civil list.
The general opinion here is, that, in spite of the solemn promises
made by France to the United States, the withdrawal of the French
army will not be effected in good faith, for it is hard to give up a
work that has cost so much blood and money.
* * * * * * *
