Mr. Plumb to Mr.
Seward
No. 20.]
Legation of the United States,
City of Mexico,
October 19, 1867.
Sir: On referring to the communications
addressed by this government to Mr. Otterbourg, I find one under date of
the 7th ultimo, which does not appear by any records in the legation to
have been sent to the department.
As it contains views regarding the protection the government of the
United States has consented to extend to the subjects of governments not
now represented in this country, to which, in the informal conversations
I have thus far had with Mr. Lerdo de Tejada upon the subject, he
appears disposed to adhere, I have thought it desirable to transmit to
the department a copy and translation, which I have now the honor to
enclose herewith.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Señor Lerdo de Tejada to
Mr. Otterbourg
Department of Foreign Relations,
Mexico,
September 7, 1867.
Sir: I have the honor to reply to the note
which you were pleased to address to me, on the 30th of July last,
with reference to the request made of you by Mr. Dano and Mr.
Hooricks, previous to their departure for Europe, that the
protection of the flag of the United States might be extended to the
French and Belgian subjects resident in Mexico.
You state in your note that in view of the cordial relations existing
between the United States, France, and Belgium, and on assurances
derived from different conversations which you have had with Mexican
authorities, that the persons and the property of foreigners would
be respected, you had thought proper to accept the office of
mediator between said authorities and French and Belgian subjects
who might appeal for such mediation under the same circumstances as
those under which it might be exercised in favor of citizens of the
United States.
As I have before had the honor to state to you verbally, the
government of Mexico, desiring to avoid all danger of differences in
its friendly relations with the United States, does not think it
desirable that you should interpose any mediation of an official
character in the affairs that may be presented by French and Belgian
subjects. Without the necessity of a mediation of an official
character, if you should desire to interpose in some cases your
private good offices, the government will attend to the same with
all possible consideration.
For the rest, foreigners resident in Mexico who have no
representative of their governments have been and are under the
protection of the Mexican authorities, to whom they can apply with
confidence that they have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy the
guarantees conceded by the laws of the republic.
I avail myself of this opportunity to repeat to you the assurances of
my distinguished consideration.
His Excellency Marcus Otterbourg,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to
Mexico.
