submitted the subject to the President, will proceed to communicate his views thereon. "First. As the undersigned has heretofore had the honor to inform each of the plenipotentiaries now addressed, the President does not feel himself at liberty to question, and he does not question, that the sover eigns represented have undoubted right to decide for themselves the fact whether they have sustained grievances, and to resort to war against Mexico for the redress thereof, and have a right also to levy the war severally or jointly. "Secondly. The United States have a deep interest, which, however, they are happy to believe is an interest held by them in common with the high contracting powers and with all other civilized states, that neither of the sovereigns by whom the convention has been concluded shall seek or obtain any acquisition of territory or any advantage peculiar to itself, and not equally left open to the United States and every other civilized state, within the territories of Mexico, and especially that neither one nor all of the contracting parties shall, as a result or consequence of the hostilities to be inaugurated under the convention, exercise in the subsequent affairs of Mexico any influence of a character to impair the right of the Mexican people to choose and freely to constitute the form of its own government. "The undersigned renews on this occasion the acknowledgment heretofore given, that each of the high contracting parties had informed the United States substantially that they recognized this interest, and he is authorized to express the satisfaction of the President with the terms in which that recognition is clearly embodied in the treaty itself. "It is true, as the high contracting parties assume, that the United States have, on their part, claims to urge against Mexico. Upon due consideration, however, the President is of opinion that it would be inexpedient to seek satisfaction of their claims at this time through an act of accession to the convention. Among the reasons for this decision which the undersigned is authorized to assign, are, first, that the United States, so far as it is practicable, prefer to adhere to a traditional policy recommended to them by the Father of their Country and confirmed by a happy experience, which forbids them from making alliances with for. eign nations; second, Mexico being a neighbor of the United States on this continent, and possessing a system of government similar to our own in many of its important features, the United States habitually cherish a decided good-will toward that Republic, and a lively interest in its se. curity, prosperity, and welfare. Animated by these sentiments the United States do not feel inclined to resort to forcible remedies for their claims at the present moment, when the Government of Mexico is deeply disturbed by factions within, and exposed to war with foreign nations. And, of course, the same sentiments render them still more disinclined to allied war against Mexico than to war to be waged against her by themselves alone. "The undersigned is further authorized to state to the plenipotentiaries, for the information of the sovereigns of Spain, France, and Great Britain, that the United States are so earnestly anxious for the safety and welfare of the Republic of Mexico, that they have already empowered their minister residing there to enter into a treaty with the Mexican Republic, conceding to it some material aid and advantages which it is hoped may enable that Republic to satisfy the just claims and demands of the said sovereigns, and so avert the war which these sovereigns have agreed among each other to levy against Mexico. The sovereigns need not be informed that this proposal to Mexico has been made, not in hostility to them, but with a knowledge of the proceeding formally communicated to them, and with the hope that they might find, through the increased ability of Mexico to result from the treaty, and her willingness to treat with them upon just terms, a mode of averting the hostilities which it is the object of the convention now under consideration to inaug. urate. What has thus far been done by the American minister at Mexico, under those instructions, has not yet become known to this Government, and the information is looked for with deep interest. "Should these negotiations offer any sufficient grounds on which to justify a proposition to the high contracting parties in behalf of Mexico, the undersigned will hasten to submit such a proposition to those pow ers. But it is to be understood, first, that Mexico shall have acceded to such a treaty; and secondly, that it shall be acceptable to the President and Senate of the United States. "In the mean time the high contracting powers are informed that the President deems it his duty that a naval force should remain in the Gulf of Mexico, sufficient to look after the interests of American citizens in Mexico during the conflict which may arise between the high contracting parties and that Republic; and that the American minister residing in Mexico be authorized to seek such conference in Mexico with the beligerent parties, as may guard each of them against inadvertent injury to the just rights of the United States, if any such should be endangered. "The undersigned having thus submitted all the views and sentiments of this Government on this important subject, to the high contracting parties, in a spirit of peace and friendship, not only towards Mexico but towards the high contracting parties themselves, feels assured that there will be nothing in the watchfulness which it is thus proposed to exercise, that can afford any cause for anxiety to any of the parties in question." Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Messrs. Tassara, Mercier and Lord Lyons, Dec. 4, 1861; MSS. Notes, Spain; 52 British and Foreign State Papers, 394. As to procedure of British and French Governments to enforce these claims, see infra., §§ 232, 318. "The President, however, deems, it his duty to express to the allies, in all candor and frankness, the opinion that no monarchical government which could be founded in Mexico, in the presence of foreign navies 1 and armies in the waters and upon the soil of Mexico, would have any prospect of security or permanence." Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. Adams, Mar. 3, 1862; MSS. Inst., Gr. Brit. Mr. Seward's report of April 14, 1862, on the "present condition of Mexico," with the accompanying correspondence, will be found in House Ex. Doc., No. 100, 37th Cong., 2d sess. His report on the same subject, of Feb. 4, 1863 is in House Ex. Doc. No. 54, 37th Cong., 3d sess; same subject, report of June 16, 1864, Senate Ex. Doc. No. 11, 38th Cong., 2d sess.; Sen. Ex. Doc. No. 33, same sess. (See §§ 232, 318.) "The undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States, has the honor to acknowledge the reception of the note of his excellency Mr. Romero, chargé d'affaires of the Republic of Mexico, which bears the date of December 20, and relates to the subject of the clearances of certain articles of merchandise at the city of New York, alleged by Mr. Romero to have been made, on account of French subjects, for the use of the French Government in its war with Mexico. "In the note which the undersigned addressed to Mr. Romero on this subject, on the 15th December last, and also in an exposition of the same subject which was made by the Secretary of the Treasury, and which was submitted to Mr. Romero, it was explained that the clearances of which he complains were made in conformity with the laws of the United States, and with the practical construction of these laws which has prevailed from the foundation of this Government, a period which includes wars, more or less general, throughout the world, and involving many states situated on the American and European continents. "The undersigned, after the most careful reading of Mr. Romero's note, is unable to concede that the Government of the United States has obliged itself to prohibit the exportation of mules and wagons, for which it has no military need, from its ports on French account because, being in a state of war and needing for the use of the Government all the fire-arms made and found in the country, it has temporarily forbidden the export of such weapons to all nations. "Nor is it perceived how the treaty between the United States and Mexico, to which Mr. Romero refers, bears upon the question, since the United States have not set up or thought of setting up any claim that Mexico shall be required to admit into her ports any articles of merchandise, contraband of war, which may be exported from the United States on French or any other account. "The undersigned is equally unable to perceive the bearing of Mr. Romero's allusions to the correspondence which has occurred between this Government and that of Great Britain, in which complaints have been made by the United States that Great Britain wrongfully and injuriously recognized as a public belligerent an insurrectionary faction which has arisen in this country; has proclaimed neutrality between that faction and this Government, and has suffered armed naval expe ditions to be fitted out in British ports to depredate on the commerce of the United States, in violation of, as was believed, the Queen's proc lamation, and of the municipal laws of the United Kingdom." Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. Romero, Jan. 7, 1863; MSS. Notes, Mex.; Dip. "Candor obliges me to commence my observations upon the subject with an acknowledgment of the very generous manner in which Mr. Drouyn de l'Huys has opened the way to a dispassionate and friendly consideration of the complaint which he has preferred. He has not only reassured you of the friendly spirit of the Emperor towards the United States, but he has also, with marked decision and energy, reaffirmed to you that France has no purpose in Mexico beyond asserting just claims against her, obtaining payment of the debt due, with the expenses of the invasion, and vindicating by victory the honor of the French flag, and that France does not mean to colonize in Mexico, or to obtain Sonora or any other section permanently, and that all allegations propagated through the newspapers conflicting with these assurances are untrue. "Your reply to these remarks of Mr. Drouyn de l'Huys, namely, that in all my correspondence with you, whether public or private, I have averred that this Government has no purpose to interfere in any way with the war between France and Mexico, was as truthful as it was considerate and proper. The United States have not disclaimed, and can never under existing circumstances disclaim, the interest they feel in the safety, welfare, and prosperity of Mexico, any more than they can relinquish or disown their sentiments of friendship and good will towards France, which began with their national existence, and have been cherished with growing earnestness ever since. When the two nations towards which they are thus inclined are found engaged in such a war as Mr. Drouyn de l'Huys has described, the United States can only deplore the painful occurrence, and express in every way and everywhere their anxious desire that the conflict may be brought to a speedy close by a settlement consistent with the stability, prosperity, and welfare of the parties concerned. The United States have always acted upon the same principle of forbearance and neutrality in regard to wars between powers with which our own country has maintained friendly relations, and they believe that this policy could not in this, more than in other cases, be departed from with advantage to themselves or to the interests of peace throughout the world." Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. Dayton, May 8, 1863; MSS. Inst., France; "When France made war against Mexico, we asked of France explanations of her objects and purposes. She answered, that it was a war for the redress of grievances; that she did not intend to permanently occupy or dominate in Mexico, and that she should leave to the people of Mexico a free choice of institutions of government. Under these cir cumstances the United States adopted, and they have since maintained, entire neutrality between the belligerents, in harmony with the tradi tional policy in regard to foreign wars. The war has continued longer than was anticipated. At different stages of it France has, in her in tercourse with us, renewed the explanations before mentioned. The French army has now captured Pueblo and the capital, while the Mexican Government, with its principal forces, is understood to have retired to San Luis Potosi, and a provisional Government has been instituted under French auspices in the city of Mexico, which, being supported by arms, divides the actual dominion of the country with the Mexican Government, also maintained by armed power. That provisional Government has neither made nor sought to make any communication to the Government of the United States, nor has it been in any way recog nized by this Government. France has made no communication to the United States concerning the provisional Government which has been established in Mexico, nor has she announced any actual or intended departure from the policy in regard to that country which her beforementioned explanations have authorized us to expect her to pursue. The United States have received no communications relating to the recent military events in Mexico from the recognized Government of that country. "The Imperial Government of Austria has not explained to the United States that it has an interest in the subject, or expressed any desire to know their views upon it. The United States have heretofore, on proper occasions, frankly explained to every party having an interest in the question the general views and sentiments which they have always entertained, and still entertain, in regard to the interests of society and government on this continent. Under these circumstances it is not deemed necessary for the representatives of the United States, in foreign countries, to engage in the political debates which the present unsettled aspect of the war in Mexico has elicited. You will be promptly advised if a necessity for any representations to the Government of Austria shall arise." Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. Motley, Sept. 11, 1863; MSS. Inst., Austria; "The French forces are understood to hold in subjection to the new provisional Government establishedin Mexico three of the States, while all the other constituent members of the Republic of Mexico still remain under its authority. There are already indications of designs in those States to seek aid in the United States, with the consent of this Government, if attainable, and without it if it shall be refused, and for this purpose inducements are held out well calculated to excite sympathies in a border population. The United States Government has hitherto practiced strict neutrality between the French and Mexico, and all the |