Mr. Plumb to Mr.
Seward.
No. 49.]
Legation of the United States,
City of Mexico,
December 16, 1867.
Sir: Upon the return of the national government
to this capital, in July last, it was understood, though not officially
announced, that it would decline to hold any intercourse with the agents
of the powers who had recognized the so-called government of
Maximilian.
On the part of the diplomatic representatives of course no intercourse
was attempted. Some of the consuls, however, held their exequaturs from
a period dating very far back. This was the case with the British
consul, Mr. Glennie, who was appointed on the 2d of November, 1853, and
whose exequatur was issued by Santa Anna, who was then in power, on the
4th of February, 1854. Under this exequatur he had continued to exercise
his functions as consul during all the different changes of government
that had occurred.
In August last, however, the question being raised, in the case of an
intestate estate in his charge, which was in court, as to whether he was
now recognized as in the exercise of such functions, he addressed a note
to Mr. Lerdo de Tejada, who replied that he was not so recognized, as
this government had decided not to recognize any representatives of any
power that had been in relations with the so-called government of
Maximilian.
This correspondence was sent to England in September, and instructions
have now been returned, which reached here on the 7th instant, for the
withdrawal of the members of the late legation and the consul, together
with the archives of the legation and the consulate.
[Page 392]
When Mr. Scarlett, who was accredited as British minister to Maximilian,
left this country in November of last year, Mr. Middleton, secretary of
the legation, remained as charge d’affaires.
In April of the present year, in common with the other members of the
diplomatic corps accredited to Maximilian, he terminated relations with
that so-called government. Since then he has remained here with the
members of his legation, while all the other European representatives
have left the country; and it seemed to be the expectation that at no
distant period relations might be reopened between England and the
government of the republic.
I am enabled to transmit to you, herewith, the correspondence that has
taken place on this occasion between Mr. Middleton and Mr. Lerdo de
Tejada, as also that between Mr. Grlennie and Mr. Lerdo de Tejada, in
August last.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Middleton to Señor Lerdo de Tejada.
Mexico,
December 8, 1867.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I
was last night placed in possession of the instructions of her
Majesty’s government to request you to have the goodness to furnish
with passports myself and all such persons as are engaged in the
service of her Majesty’s late legation here, and also for her
Majesty’s consul and his family, for the purpose of leaving this
republic by the port of Vera Cruz.
I have also the honor to inclose herewith a list of the names of the
persons for whom this favor is solicited.
With respect to the motives which have induced her Majesty’s
government to remove the several members of her Majesty’s late
legation, as well as those employed in her Majesty’s late consulate
in this capital, as well as all archives and government property
appertaining to the same, from this country, I have the honor to
inform you, sir, that I have been ordered to make the present
application for passports for myself, as well as the persons
referred to, in consequence of the decision of the Mexican
government to hold no intercourse with the agents of powers who
recognized the government of the Emperor Maximilian. I am, at the
same time, desired, upon my departure, formally to place under the
protection of the Mexican government the persons and properties of
British subjects, and to call upon the Mexican government, in
fulfillment of the duty for which all states are responsible, to
secure from injury at the hands of the public authorities all
British subjects residing in or passing through their country, and
to extend to them, as long as They are within the country, and to
their properties, full justice in all their dealings.
So soon as I am able to complete the arrangements for my departure,
and for the transport of the archives of her Majesty’s legation, it
will be my duty, in conformity with my instructions, to apply to
you, sir, for the necessary escort for enabling me to reach Vera
Cruz in safety.
I have the honor to be, sir, with the highest consideration, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Señor Don Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada,
&c., &c., &c.
[Translation.]
Señor Lerdo de Tejada to
Mr. Middleton.
Department of Foreign
Relations,
Mexico,
December 11, 1867.
Sir: I have the honor to send you the
passports requested for yourself and company, in your note of the
8th instant. You say the reasons for such instructions from the
government of her Britannic Majesty are because of the resolutions
of the Mexican [Page 393] government
not to have any communication with the agents of the powers that
recognized the so-called government of the Archduke Maximilian.
The position of the government of Mexico, in relation to those
powers, has been caused by no voluntary act of its chief; those
powers decided to put an end to the friendly relations with the
Mexican republic, by expelling it from the society of nations. The
republic exisists by the will of the Mexican people, and its
government is ready to renew relations with all foreign powers, so
soon as they will make proposals in just and proper terms.
The government will see that English subjects residing in Mexico are
protected by the laws of the country. During the war there was no
complaint in any part of the country subject to the authorities of
the republic; and since the close of the foreign intervention the
government has heard of no cause of complaint anywhere.
As it has always done, the government of the republic will comply
with the precepts of the law of nations, and will see that its own
laws are properly executed.
The escort you ask for will be furnished when you are ready to
start.
With the greatest consideration, I have the honor to be your obedient
servant,
Mr. R. T. C. Middleton, &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Glennie to Señor Lerdo de Tejada.
British Consulate,
Mexico,
August 27, 1867.
Mr. Minister: By virtue of the commission
granted me on the 2d of November, 1853, and its relative exequatur
of the 4th of February, 1854, I have performed the duties of British
consul since that time.
My son, Charles F. Glennie, was acting in my name when he was called
by the courts of the country to take charge of the estate of Mr.
Alexander Lafontaine, a British subject, deceased.
Again he was summoned in the same case by the judge of the sixth
district, when I learned that the President of the republic refused
to acknowledge me as British consul.
As it is my duty to protect my countrymen and attend to the estates
of deceased and absent British subjects, in conformity with the laws
of the republic, you will please inform me who is to discharge the
duties of British consul in this city.
Your very obedient servant,
Mr. S. Lerdo de Tejada,
Minister of Foreign Relations, &c.,
&c., &c.
[Translation.]
Señor Lerdo de Tejada to
Mr. Glennie.
Department of Foreign
Relations,
Mexico,
August 30, 1867.
Sir: In your communication of the 27th
instant, relating to the property of an intestate British subject,
you ask if the government of the republic refuses to recognize you
as British consul.
You are hereby informed that the judge in the case mentioned was
ordered by the department of justice not to allow you to intervene
as consul.
This was done because the government of the republic had determined
to have no official intercourse with any agent of the governments
abroad that had acknowledged the usurper of foreign
intervention.
I am, respectfully, your very obedient servant,
Mr. F. Glennie, &c., &c., &c., Mexico.
