The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-05 00:00:00

THE ALLIES IN MEXICO.

(From the Times' Correspondent.)
VERA CRUZ, April 27.
As I have little doubt you are anxious to know
what has recently taken place here, I will in the
following letter send you what information I have
been able to gather. The Commissioners of Eng-
land, France, and Spain had agreed to meet on the
19th of this month the Mexican Ministers at Orizaba,

for the purpose of conducting negotiations there and
bringing them to a conclusion. Orizaba was fixed
upon as yellow fever was raging at the time in Vera
Cruz. It is a healthy town, 100 miles from the sea
coast. The forces of the allies were only allowed
to proceed to it on the understanding that if, after
the conference on the 19th, the Commissioners of the
three European Powers could not agree with the
Mexican Government, they were again to withdraw
their troops to Vera Cruz. The English, French,
and Spanish Commanders•in-Chief signed a treaty
with the Mexicans, in which they faithfully under-
took to perform this obligation. Each gave his
word of " honour" that the Government he repre-

sented would not depart from the promise so made.
The allied troops accordingly proceeded to Orizaba
and found there a very good hospital, with every
facility for providing stores. The French took up
their quarters about five miles from the town. Four
days before the time fixed for a conference the Eng-
lish, Spanish, and Mexican Ministers met. As
the French Minister, however, did not join them,
they waited until the 19th ; the French Commis-
sioner was still absent. General Prim then showed
great impatience of the delay, and he resolved at
length to ride towards the French quarter to ask an
explanation of the cause. lle had hardly gone two
miles, when to his surprise he met the French
army advancing in military array. First came
the cavalry, with drawn sabres and carbines loaded
and unslung. The infantry followed, with muskets
at the trail, loaded, and bayonets fixed. Then came
the artillery, every gun loaded and ready to unlim-
ber. He met the Staff, and asked Admiral Renier
the meaning of that movement, and told him that
he had come out to ascertain why he had not made
his appearance at the conference. The Admiral re-
plied that he had received orders from France
which absolved him from all former treaties. He
added that he had heard our sick were in danger of
being massacred. General Prim at once protested
against the course taken by the French. He told
Admiral Renier that he was violating the recent
treaty, and acting in flagrant violation of any ob-
ligation imposed by the law of nations, by advanc-
ing, armed and ready for battle, into the interior of
a State against which war had not been declared.
The Admiral gave the protest a patient hearing
and answered that he would encamp where he wee
for the night and think about it. General Prim
then rode back to Orizaba, and informed Commo-
dore Drummond of what he had seen, heard, and
done. To ascertain if there was any ground for
the assertion that a massacre was in contempla-
tion he visited the hospital, and found everything
quite safe. He visited it again at 7,8, and 9 p.m.,
and again found everything quiet. The Com•
modore went at 10 p.m., and with the same result.
As there was no evidence of any plot of the kind at
4 a.m. on the 20th, General Prim then went to the
Mexican Minister, and told him that he would re-
turn to the French quarters, and urge the necessity
of strict adherence to the conditions of the treaty.
As all the Spaniards had gone to Vera Cruz, the
Mexican Minister insisted that he should be accom-
panied by a guard of honour of 100 men. General
Prim, however, did not wait for the guard of hon-
our, but set out at once on horseback towards the
French encampment. Imagine his surprise at fina d
the day
before. the army in advance again, as on
y
before. He rode right into the middle o f the French
Staff. As he passed the French Admiral the latter
saluted him with " Bonjour mon timiral," but the
reply was simply, "Bonjour General." When the
Spanish commander got into the middle of the
Staff be took off his hat, bowed all round, and said,
"Officers and gentlemen, you made this advance
yesterday under the excuse of your sick being in
danger. I have visited your sick and chief medical
offices at 5,7, 8, and 9 p.m., and found every thing
quite safe. The English commodore visited your
sick at 10 p.m.
with the same satisfactory re-
sult. I visited them again at 4 this morning.
I found all quiet, and was assured by your
own medical officers that they are as safe as in
the middle of France, the Mexican population
showing their good feeling by the readiness with
which they supply them with provisions. "Now,
gentlemen," he added, I have relieved your minds
on this score, and I beg of you to adhere to
the solemn promises you have made, and not to
advance further." At first there was no reply to
this protest. At length, however, Admiral Renier,
after some talk with his officers, turned to Prim, and
said that he had received recent orders from the
Emperor which absolved him from his word and
the treaty. He had been instructed not to treat
with the Mexicans, except in the town of Mexico.
Gen. Prim made no reply to this statement. He
considered the conduct of the French dishonourable,
and rode away at once for Vera Cruz. Just as he
left, the guard of honour which had been ordered
to escort him, and which he had left a mile behind
and out of sight, made its appearance. The French
cavalry at once halted, and the officer in command
of the French cavalry demanded what they were
doing there. Gen. Melanie, the Spanish second in
command, advanced from the Mexicans, and ex-
plained that they were a guard of honour to Gen.
Prim and himself. The French colonel then or-
dered the Mexicans back, and told Melanie
.that he
was now within the French lines.
atm eoinacne7
atshe n
he
persuaded the Mexicans to go back
was then quite safe from all bandits. All this time
the French cavalry had been pressing close on the
heels of the guard of honour, so much so that the
Mexican officer turned round to the French colonel