The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING JULY 12, 1862.

APIPAIkB IP MEXICO.

VITILTHEB OORRIMPONDENCIL

This morning about 40 pages of correspondence
relating to Mexican affairs were issued from the Parlia-
mentary Printing-office. This oorrespondenoe includes
letters from the British Minister at Madrid, respecting the

proceedings of the Spanish cabinet ; communications from
our representatives, diplomatic and naval, in Mexico, con-
cerning the proceedings of the French ; a copy of the con-
vention of Puebla, concluded but not ratified ; and letters
from Lord Cowley, reporting the comments of the
French Foreign Minister. M. Thouvenel acknowledged the
right of England to conclude Use convention, but expressed
regret at the probable exercise of that right ; and, on the
ground of objections to some of its provision% the British
government declined to ratify the convention, Earl Rummell
expressing his pleasure that circumstances enabled us " with
honour to avoid that which would appear to widen the po-
litical separation between England and France with regard
to Mexican affairs." The French government manifested
great satisfaction at this determination, and asked permis.
thin to announce it to the legialatite body. Earl Russell
replies that there is no objection to this, as doubtless the
mamas would at the same time be stated. What those
reasons in detail are, and the present aspect of the (mee-
ting, will be gathered from the following despatch from the
Foreign Minister to Sir Charles Wyke, with which the cor-
respondence concludes:
" Foreign-office, June 27, 1862.—5ir,--Her Majesty's
government have considered with great attention your
despatch of April 29, and the convention signed by you
at Puebla on April 28, of whicha copy was enclosed in
your despatch. They have also received a copy of the
additional convention aimed by you, by Commodore Dunlop,
sad General Doblado, at Mexico, on the 12th of May, and
enclosed io yourdespatch of the llth ult. Her Majesty's govern-
meat have no doubt that you and Commodore Dunlop were
quite right in separating yourselves from the French after
the declared intention of the French commanders to move
their troops on Mexico, with a view to overthrow the
government of the President of the Mexican republic.
Had you consented to join in that movement, you would, in
the opinion of her Majesty's government, have acted is
direct violation of the convention of London, and in con-
travention of those principlos: of non-interference in the
internal affain of other countries upon which the foreign
policy of her Majesty's government is based. Her Majesty's
government are rejoiced to think that you bare toads it clear
to the world that her Majesty's government well not swerve
from a policy which is so conducive to the maintenance
of the principle of national independence. Nor can anyone
deny that when you had thus regained your freedom of acting
you were at liberty to negotiate a convention with the
Mexican government. There can be no doubt, indeed, that
it is not only strictly the right, but it is also strictly the
duty of the British government to obtain for British sob-
jade in Mexico reparation for the wrongs they have suffered,
and compensation for the frauds and the robberies of which
they have been the victims. But in seeking to obtain this
redress, the British government are determined to abide by
the principles they profess, the obligations they have con-
tract:it, and the great rules of policy by which the nation is
guided. Viewed in this light, her Majesty's government do
not find that the convention of Puebla contravenes either
the principle of non-intervention or the general en-
pgenuot contained in the convention of October
'3l, 1861, that the contracting parties should not
by their action in Mexioo seek any territorial dominion
or separate advantage for themselves. It only proposes to
do that which England, France, and Sparn desired to do
jointly, and which, since the rupture of Oriraba we moat all
do separately, namely, to obtain redress for just complaints'.
But when the convention is examined with • view to ewer-
tsiu its conformity to the great rules of policy by which the
British nation is guided, her Majesty's government are not
satia6Bl with come of its provisions. For iodine% this
convention recognises in a most inonveuieut manner the
probable conclusion of a treaty between Mexico and the
United States, by which Mexico would obtain a loan
from the United States, and the United States a security
for that loan in the Veit waste lands of Mexico.
It has since appeared that this treaty between the United
States and Mexico will not be ratified, nor even be sub-
mitted to the Senate for the purpose of ratification by the
President of the United States. Her Majesty's govern.
ment understand that the ground upon which the govern-
meet of the United States have come to the determination
not to ratify this treaty is, that by advancing money to •
power at war with Francis the United States would aid
one of the belligerent parties. The same objection does
not, indeed, apply to Great Britain, became if the conven-
tion were ratified we should withdraw money from Mexico
instead of advancing money to Mexico. But the objection
felt by her Majesty's government to the convention
of Puebla is that this convention with Mexico is
interwoven with another treaty the provisions of which
ax not fully known to her Majesty's government, sod
which, if briught into operation, might possibly affect the
independence of Mexico. The convention which you have
aped proceeds to provide that, in case the treaty with the
United States shoedr not be ratified an interest is the same
property in the waste lands should be vested in the British
government. But the title to this security might be dis-
puted, the church lands might be resumed, and while the
essertion of such a title might involve this country in conflict
with other powers, and with Mexico itself, its abandonment''
might render us liable in an inconvenient degree to the
claims of the British bondholders. The supplementary
article, sigoed at Mexico on the 12th of May, providing for
the occupation of certain Mexican porta by British navel
forms, is open in • greater degree to objections of the rune
nature. For these reasons her Majesty'sgovernment,whilestiol
intent upon obtaining redeem from Mexico for British sub-
jecta, will decline to ratify the convention of Puebla and the
supplementary snick' of Mexico of the 12th of May. As
you were not instructed to sign this convention, bee
Majesty's government can refuse to ratify it without the
smelled imputation of breech of faith. You are therefore
instructed to inform General Debts lo that her Majesty is
not be advised to ratify the convention of Puebla of the 28th
of April, or the supplementary article sign( i at Mexico on
the 12th of May.—l am, br.c.,
(Signed) " Itoeszu,."