The Sun.
London, England, 1838-06-07 00:00:00

TI'RENCII CLAIMS ON MEXICO.
Official Reply of the Mexican Government to the ultimatum
Of: the French Minister:—
Government Palace, Mexico, Mareh 50.
The undersigned Minister for Foreign Affairs has laid he-
Tore the President of the Republic the note which, characte-
rised as an ultimatum, beering date the 21st of the present
month, on board the frigate Herminie, at anchor off Sacritl-
cios, has been fowerded to this department by his Excellency
the Baron Deffaudis, Charge d'Affaires of France ; and his
Excellency the President has commanded the undersigned to
transmit the following reply immediately to M. de Lisle :
Tbe President hoped from what passed at the last interview
which Pl. de Lisle had with the undersigned, that the Baron
Deffaudis would have made his communications respecting the
.elaims of the King of the French direct to the head of the
Republic; but never contemplated, that having once ceased
his diplomatic duties, by appointing M. de Lisle as the
Chimp d'Affaires in his absence, he would re-assume his offi-
scial character withuut giving the customary notice to that
eeffect. This department not having received any official
intimation annulling the appointment of M. de Lisle, can
for the present recognise no one else as Charge d'Affaires of
fiance. This explanation may suffice for not replying direct
to the Baron Deffaudis, which is not from want of courtesy,
;but from strict adherence to diplomatic ceremony, which the
,Government of the Republic would be wanting in self-respect
were it to infringe. But even if this difficulty did not exist,
others of greater magnitude and importance present them-
selves. The Baron Deffaudis is now actually on board
a French ship of war, surrounded by other naval forces,
which, although for the present they maintain a pacific
appearance, are ready to begin hostilities the moment
their chief hears that the proposed ultimatum is rejected.
How then can Baron Deffaudis suppose for a moment
that the undersigned would enter into correspondence
with him, or that his Government would give the due con-
sideration to his proposals, when he appears in the character
of an Admiral making an ultimatum, not as the messenger
Hof peace, desirous of conciliating the differences be-
'tween France and Mexico? Is such conduct worthy of
the civilized nation and Government of France ? It is even
more singular, when it is considered that the undersigned, in
the communication he made to M. de Lisle on the 23d of
February, gave the Baron Deffaudis, on the part of the Go- 1
vernment, the strongest assurances—all that he could desire—
respecting his full enjoyment of all privileges and immunities
cons..steut with his station, as well as for his own personal pro-
tecoion. not only in the capital, but in any other part of the
Feepublic where he might choose to dwell, and whence he
might place himself in communication with the undersigned,
or with any other person whom the Government might ap-
point. Great, very great surprise, has been excited by this
conduct, s ) offensive and injurious to the Republic on the part
of the Baron.
But these difficulties, however grave they may be, still are
confined to the acts of the Minister Plenipotentiary of France,
end are of much less importance than the prssence of the
French squadron in our waters. This gives to the claims ad-
vanced by the French Government such an odious character
of violence, that the President has not hesitated a singh
moment in declaring that nothing will be conceded, even
sklPPosing that the pretensions of France were just and ,1
ecieital'ie, as long as these are exacted wish arms in hand,
instv-d of the arguments of equity and reason, more becom-
ing in a so-styled friendly nation. The Mexican nation has
already suffered sufficiently from its earnest desire to maintain
Peace and tranquillity between the two nations after the
rotrival of the French squadron, respecting the object of whose
appearance this department has received no other reply to its
repeated demands than a contemptuous silence of nineteen
days, followed by this 'ultimatum. Nevertheless the Govern-
ment is far from bletning itself for the moderation it has
always manifeaterl towards France.
The above wall suffice to show, perhaps to convince, the
Charge d'AeJaires of France, how impossible it is for the Pre-
sident of t:ne Republic to take into consideration and reply to
each ar iicle of the ultimatum. But the candour, dignity, and
faith of the Mexican Government do, notwithstanding,
ce.enpel it to declare, that among the claims set forth by France
.4:C some so unjust in themselves, and so offensive to the Re-
public, that no power will ever induce it to concede them ;
but there are also others which the Government will cheers
fully come forward to arrange in an honourable manner.
The undersigned will, therefore, refrain from speaking of
the style in which the ultimatum is drawn up, as also of the
tensure heaped upon the different Governments of the Fede-
ration ; nor will he allude to the injurious accusations brought
against the civil and military authorities, nor to the numerous
calumnious remarks which tend to imply that the Mexican na-
tion is unfit to form one of civilized communities. The opi-
nion of Baron Deffaudis, however respectable he may be, is,
after all, but that of a single individual, and will hardly lower
Mexico in the scale of independent nations. If his Excellency
really believes that foreigners dwelling in this Republic groan
under a long-continued and systematic oppression, the conti-
nual and uninterrupted immigration of Europeans (chiefly
French) who come to establish themselves in the country
proves the reverse. And this fact, while it speaks in favour
of the hospitality of Mexico, may, perhaps, undeceive M.
Deffaudis, as it certainly contradicts his assertion.
The undersigned, therefore, concludes by assuring M. de
Lisle that the categorical answer of the President of the Re-
public is, that he will not treat upon the conditions proposed in
the ultimatum whilst the French naval force remains on
the Mexican coast ; and supposing. as Baron Deffaudis as-
erts, the dece. initiation of France to be irrevocable, that if
the Mexican Government replies -upon a single point in the
negative, or even in a doubtful manner, M. Bazoche, the Com-
enander of the French squadron, is immediately to execute his
orders—then, in such case, the President cannot avoid the
rupture which must naturally ensue.
But the President, through the undersigned, protests before
God and man that he has had nothing more at heart than
avoiding all cause of hostilities, that he has throughout been
animated with a lively and earnest wish to settle their differ-
ences in a manner creditable to both countries, and that he is
still disposed to grant everything consistent with justice and
reason when applied for in a manner consistent with the dig-
silty of the nation over which he presides. And the under-
sievied protests that neither his nation nor his Government are
or will be responsible for the ills and injuries which may en-
sue
from the rupture, but he will never cease to pray that the
two nations may once more return to a state of peace and a
true knowledge of their real interests.
With this the undersigned begs to renew to the Charge
d'Affaires of France the assurance of his distinguished consi-
deration, LUIS G. CUEVAS.