The Express.
London, England, 1862-06-27 00:00:00

'DEBATE ON THE MEXICAN EXPEDITION
IN THE FRENCH CHAMBERS.

PARIS, THCISDAT,

During the discussion on extraordinary credits
in the Chamber of Deputies to-day, M. Jules
Favre censured the expedition to Mexico, and re-
quested explanations which he said public
opinion awaited with impatience. He recalled
the• origin of the expedition, and cited the
convention of London, limiting its extent.
M. Favre also examined the phases of tho expe-
dition, the convention of Soledad and the councils
lof the plenipotentiaries of the three powers, which
finally led to a rupture. M. Jules Favre main-
tained that France ought not to support Almonte,
who had just revolutionised Mexico. He al-
luded Ito the affair of the Jecker loan,
and regretted that the government ap-
peared to disdain the calumnies which had
been spread abroad on this subject. " I hope,"
continued he, " that France will not persist in
claiming that 75,000,000 f., the fruit of scandalous
speculations. Things have reached a point in which it
is necessary that the resolutions to be taken
should be explained. To my view the sole
course to take compatible with the interest
and the honour of the country is to treat
with Mesita) and withdraw. (Murmurs.) It is
easy to justify this opinion. The contrary one
rests on generous illusions or a disastrous predeter-
mined course. We have not to avenge a defeat in
Mexico. Our soldiers, in the midst of insur-
mountable natural difficulties, have valiantly car-
ried the name and honour of France, and they can
return to their country with the glory which at-
taches to generous devotedness and duty loyally
accomplished. To advance would be a disastrous
enterprise. We should be obliged to maintain the
government which we might establish by an army
I of 15,000 men. The consequences of the policy
we have followed in Mexico have been to com-
promise our relations with several Powers."
M. Jules Favre concluded by expressing a hope
that France will not be engaged in compromising
enterprises without consulting the Chamber of
Deputies.

PARIS, FRIDAY.

Yesterday evening in the Corps Legislatif M.
Billault, at the conclusion of M. Favre's discourse,
delivered his expected speech on the Mexican ex-
pedition.
The Minister commenced by describing the
anarchy which has prevailed in Mexico for the last
25 years, and continued : "It was the robbery,
pillage, and assassination of strangers that deter-
mined the three powers to carry out the expedi-
tion. France and England were not hostile to the
candidature of the Archduke Maximilian if
the Mexicans chose him voluntarily. Spain
would have preferred a Bourbon prince."
M. Billault established a difference between the
withdrawal of the Spaniards and that of the Eng-
lish, who were always adverse to an expedition into
the interior. He censured negotiations, from which
it was impossible to obtain any result, and stated
that the Emperor was compelled to disavow the
convention of Soledad as contrary to the honour of
France. The explanations given to M. Barret gave
ground to hope that Spain had the same policy in
Mexico as France, viz., the establishment in Mexico
of a government, either a republic or a monarchy, as
the Mexicans may wish. M. Billault stated that
notwithstanding the momentary disagreement be-
tween the three governments, they remained on
good terms, and quoted as a proof of this the recent
eloquent speech of Lord Palmerston. The Minis-
ter paid a high tribute to the character of Admiral
Jurien de la Graviere, who had repeatedly said that
France wished for neither a monarchy nor a repub-
lic, but simply a good government. M. Billault
maintained that it was incorrect that France had
sent Almonte to excite a civil war. "He was only
to arrive in the city of Mexico when the ballot had
been opened to consult the national will. He ar-
rived in Mexico under the protection of our flag,
and committed no hostile act before the rupture of
negotiations." Replying to an interruption from
M. Jules Favre, M. Billault said that when the
French flag floats in Mexico the population
will, as in Italy, be called upon to express
their intentions. "If," said M. Billault,
" they reply that the Juarez government
snits them, we should reply 'Amen!'" The
Minister expressed great indignation at the calum-
nies disseminated in the correspondence of several
Grein journals relative to the aims of France. He
said : "Excessive pecuniary demands have been
spoken of. The committee will verify the rights of