Mr. Seward to Mr. Plumb
Sir: Your despatch of the 19th of October, No. 20, has been received. You have done very well in reviewing the question in regard to the protection to be extended by the United States to foreigners belonging to nations unrepresented in Mexico, and I thank you especially for giving me a copy of Mr. Lerdo de Tejada’s communication to Mr. Otterbourg, of the 7th of September, on that subject; and also for the recent correspondence between yourself and Mr. Lerdo de Tejada on that subject, which accompanies the despatch now acknowledged.
You labor, however, under a misapprehension. A copy of Mr. Lerdo de Tejada’s note to Mr. Otterbourg, of the 7th of September, was duly forwarded by the late minister to this department. Its receipt was acknowledged in my instruction No. 17, addressed to you on the 25th of October, which instruction, it is presumed, was received by you after the date of your despatch No. 20. Due notice was taken by me, in my said instruction, of the views and wishes of the Mexican government concerning the manner in which the good offices of the United States should be extended to the subjects of France and Belgium, and you were directed to exert those good offices in such manner, whether public and official or private and unofficial, as should be most acceptable to the government of the republic. To guard against all misapprehension, a copy of that instruction was communicated by this department to the governments of France and Belgium for their information. I am not aware that there remains any occasion for misapprehension concerning the matter.
[Page 480]Adhering to the course prescribed in that instruction, you will be able to bring to the notice of the government of Mexico any grave complaint made to you without transcending the proprieties of unofficial and confidential communications. It is manifest to the government that all the European states, now unrepresented in Mexico, must come very quickly to such recognition of the republic as its dignity and interest require, and as is desired most earnestly by the United States. The interposition of good offices, in the mean time, which they ask from the United States, is to be exercised in such a manner as will facilitate instead of hindering that important object. At the same time nothing is further from our desire than in any way to cause embarrassment to the government of Mexico, nor are any apprehensions entertained by me that any misunderstanding will arise between us and the Mexican government from such unofficial good offices.
You will please make the contents of this despatch known to Mr. Lerdo de Tejada.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Edward L. Plumb, Esq., &c., &c., &c.