Mr. Plumb to Mr.
Seward.
No. 33.]
Legation of The United States,
City of Mexico,
November 9, 1867.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a
copy and translation of the reply of the government of Mexico to the
communication which, in compliance with your instructions No. 4, of the
26th of August last, I addressed to the minister for foreign affairs,
inquiring if any reply had been sent to the letter addressed by
Commander Roe, of the United States steamer Tacony, to the President of
the republic, communicating the request of the commander of the Austrian
corvette Elizabeth that the remains of the deceased Prince Maximilian
might be delivered to him for conveyance to Austria. It appears that the
letter of Commander Roe was not received by President Juarez. I am also
informed by Mr. Lerdo de Tejada that the affair that was the object of
that letter is now arranged.
A note having been received from the government of Austria asking that it
might be permitted to remove the remains of the Prince Maximilian to
that country, Mr. Lerdo de Tejada has replied that they would be
immediately delivered to Vice-Admiral Tegetthoff, who has come to Mexico
commissioned for that purpose.
A copy of my communication to the Mexican government is annexed
hereto.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Plumb to Señor Lerdo de Tejada
Legation of the United States,
City of Mexico,
October 24, 1867.
Sir: In a report dated June 23d last,
Commander F. A. Roe, of the United States steamer Tacony, then lying
off Sacraticios, Mexico, informed the Secretary of the Navy of the
United States that, at the request of the commander of the Austrian
corvette Elizabeth, he had addressed a communication to President
Juarez, asking that the remains of the deceased Prince Maximilian
might be delivered on board the Elizabeth for the purpose of being
conveyed to Austria.
Under instructions from the Department of State, dated the 26th of
August last, I have been directed respectfully to inquire whether
any answer has been returned to the communication of Commander Roe,
and if not, whether one may be expected?
A copy of the letter of Commander Roe to President Juarez is annexed
hereto.
I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, your excellency’s
most obedient servant,
His Excellency Señor Don Sebastian Lerdo de
Tejada,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Mexico,
Commander Roe to President Juarez
United States Steamer Tacony,
Off Vera Cruz, Mexico,
June 23, 1867.
Sir: I am earnestly solicited by
Captain Groeller of the Austrian navy, commanding the imperial
man-of-war Elizabeth, to beg upon his behalf and upon that of
the government of Austria that you will be pleased to allow him
the privilege of receiving the remains of the late Prince
Maximilian on board of the Elizabeth for the purpose of
conveying them to Austria.
The relics of the dead can be neither of service nor injury to
Mexico, and as I conceive his prayer to be one of tender
humanity and of affection for his unhappy and bereaved family, I
have the honor to beg also that his request may be granted.
Any expenses incurred in bringing the remains to Vera Cruz will
be most cheerfully liquidated by Captain Groeller.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
F. A. ROE, Commander United States
Navy.
His Excellency President
Juarez.
[Page 478]
[Translation.]
Señor Lerdo de Tejada to
Mr. Plumb
Department of Foreign Relations,
Mexico,
November 6, 1867.
Sir: With your note of the 24th of October
last, I received the copy annexed of a letter addressed by Mr. F. A.
Roe, commander of the United States steamer Tacony, at Sacrificios,
to the President of the republic on the 23d of June last, informing
him of the request of Captain Groeller, commander of the Austrian
corvette Elizabeth, that he might be permitted to take to Austria
the remains of the Archduke Maximilian.
I have laid your note before the President, who has informed me that
he did not receive the letter of Commander Roe, which assuredly must
have miscarried, through the circumstances of that period, when the
President had not yet come to this city.
I can inform you, however, that the affair that was the object of
that letter is now arranged. A note having been received from the
government of Austria asking that it might be permitted to remove
the remains of the Archduke Maximilian to that country, I have
replied that they would be delivered immediately to Vice-Admiral
Tegetthoff, who has come to Mexico commissioned for that
purpose.
I have the honor to repeat to you, sir, that I am with the highest
consideration, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Mr. Edward L. Plumb,
Chargé d’ Affaires of the United States of
America in Mexico.
