[Translation.]
Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward
Mexican Legation in the United States
of America. Washington,
July 13, 1867.
Mr. Secretary: With your note of this date
I have had the honor to receive a copy of a memorandum of
yesterday’s date from your department which you were pleased to
enclose to me with reference to the matter of the proceedings
arising from the visit which Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
recently made to the ports of Vera Cruz and Sisal.
I this day transmit a copy of the said memorandum to the government
of the Mexican republic, and I do not for a moment doubt that my
government will be as much gratified as myself with the
determination which, after a mature examination of the case and its
incidents, you have adopted in this affair, inasmuch as the said
conclusion, in my judgment, is founded on the principles of equity,
and is in conformity with the prescriptions of international
law.
The sentiments of sympathy towards the republic of Mexico which you
are pleased to express at the conclusion of your memorandum, and the
course which
[Page 621]
you therein
indicate the government of the United States intends to pursue in
its relations with Mexico, will likewise be duly appreciated and
reciprocated in the new era of peace and prosperity which the late
political events have inaugurated for my country.
It is most satisfactory to me to avail myself of this opportunity to
renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the assurances of my most distinguished
consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
Memorandum.
Washington,
July 15, 1867.
Mr. Romero said that all he knows about the reported disposition
of the Mexican government not to allow Mr. A. Dano, who had been
acting as French minister near the late Maximilian, to leave the
republic, is, that while Maximilian’s trial was going on Mr.
Dano made an application to General Diaz, then besieging the
city of Mexico, to allow him to go to Queretaro to assist
Maximilian. General Diaz replied officially on the 1.0th ultimo,
as he has informed me, that he did not feel himself authorized
to accede to Mr. Dano’s request, unless he should be instructed
to do so by the President of the republic. Mr. Dano did not push
his application any further, and the matter seems to have
dropped there.
As regards the rumors that the Mexican government intends to keep
Mr. Dano as a hostage, Mr. Romero has received no information
which can in any way confirm that assertion. Mr. Romero,
however, believes that, supposing it to be true that a second
application of Mr. Dano’s to General Diaz for a passport to
leave the republic has been declined, as stated, it will be only
because General Diaz refused to accept the responsibility of
such action, which involves questions foreign to his province as
a soldier, and in no way showing a determination of preventing,
finally, Mr. Dano from leaving Mexico.
The Mexican government, to whom this subject was undoubtedly
submitted by General Diaz, has in all probability acted on it
before this; but its determination, which in my opinion would be
to let Mr. Dano go, cannot be known here for some days yet.
