The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-10 00:00:00

You cannot, while practising the courtesy and re-
spect which are due to the Austrian Government,
be either too earnest or too emphatic in the protest
you have been directed to make. In performing
this duty you may be assisted by information of the
actual state of the question concerning French in-
tervention in Mexico at the present moment. With
this view I give you, confidentially, a copy of my
note, addressed to M. Moutholon on the 12th day
of February last. As yet no reply has been received
to this note, nor have its contents become public.
You will, therefore, see the propriety of being
discreet in such use of it as you may find it neces-
sary to make. After reading that paper you will
be justified in saying that the American Govern-
ment and people would not be likely to be pleased
with seeing Austria, at this juncture, assume the
character of a protector to the foreign military
Power which, claiming the power of an empire, is
attempted to be set up upon the supposed subverted
foundations of the Republic of Mexico.—l am, sir,
your obedient servant,

WILLIAM IL SEWARD.
J. Lothrop Motley, Esq., &c., &c., Vienna.
MR. SEWARD TO MR. MOTLEY.
(No. 173.)
Washington, April 6, 1866.

Sir,—An informal note has just been received
from Mr. Bigelow, the United States Minister at
Paris. In this note Mr. Ilegelowaraites in substance
as follows :—" The Illoniteur of the 21st of March
announces that a military convention was signed at
Vienna on the 15th, between the Austrian Govern-
ment and the representative of Maximilian, sup-
plementary to a convention of the same nature
which had been concluded between the same parties.
The purport of this engagement, says the Moniteur,
is to insure the enrolments necessary to keep ful 1
the Austrian corps in IVlexico."

toinstaarntoodthferromioTurrineasltetthoat.
Mr. Bigelow further writes as follows have
Vera Cruz
to sitsa
toted
to ply regularly after the Ist of April',
seen
nmietrs
Again, Mr. Bigelow furnishes an extract from tha
Paris Constitutionnel, of the 21st of March
learn from the Frendenblatt of Vienna that the en-
listment for Mexico will begin immediately : that
the funds have been received from Paris two months
since."

Your despatches, of dates almost as late as that
of Mr. Bigelow's note, are silent upon the rumours
which he brings to the notice of the Government.
It is possible that more authentic information which
you may possess concerning the disposition and
proceedings of the Austrian Government may en-
able you to treat the matters mentioned by Mr.
Bigelow with indifference. Looking at the matter,

however, from one point of observation, the rumours
referred to are deemed sufficient to entitle us to ask
a friendly and just exposition of the Imperial Royal
Government of the relations which it proposes to
assume or maintain henceforth in regard to Mexico.
You are expected, therefore, to execute the instruc-

tions which have heretofore been sent to you to that
effect, and it is thought proper that you should state
that in the event of hostilities being carried on here-
after in Mexico by Austrian subjects, under the com-
mand or with the sanction of the Government of
Vienna, the United States will feel themselves at
liberty to regard these hostilities as constituting a
state of war by Austria against the Republic of
Mexico, and in regard to such war waged at this
time, and under existing circumstances, the U-i.ited
States could not engage to remain as silent or neutral
spectators.
The President may desire to call the attention of
Congress to this interesting subject. You will see
the importance, therefore, of obtaining the informa-
tion, which is desired as early as maybe practicable,
consistently with the courtesies due to Austria as a
friendly Government.

Should_you,_ however, find irprtortant reasons,
now unknown to—lis for deferrihg the execution of
this instruction, you will beat liberty to exercise
your discretion, and report the reasons to us.—l am,
sir, your obedient servant,

L
To J. Lothrop Motle rvAi3einHn
a.
Y, ElVsqlL. SEWARD.
MIL 0, TO MR. MOTLEY.
Department of State, Washington, April
16,1866.
Sir,—l have had the honour to receive your de-
spatch of the 27th of March (No. 155), which brings
the important announcement that a treaty, called a
" military supplementary convention," was ratified
on the 15th of that month between the Emperor of
Austria and the Prince Maximilian, who claims to
be an Emperor in Mexico. You inform me that it
is expected that about 1,000 volunteers will be
shipped, under this treaty, from Trieste to Vera
Cruz very soon, and that at least as many more will
be shipped in the autumn.
I have heretofore given you the President's in-
structions to ask for explanations, and conditionally
to inform the Government of Austria that the de-
spatch of military expeditions by Austria, under
such an arrangement as the one which seems now to
have been consummated, will be regarded with
serious concern by the United States.
The subject has now been farther considered in
connection with the official information thus recently
received. The time seems to have arrived when the
attitude of this Government in relation to Mexican
affairs should be once again frankly and distinctly
made known to the Emperor of Austria and all
other Powers whom it may directly concern. The
United States, for reasons which seem to them to be
just, and to have their foundations in the laws of
nations, maintain that the domestic
Government with which they
are in relations of
friendly communication is the
only legitimate Go-
vernment existing in Mexico ; that a war has, for a
period of several years, been NI aged against that
Republic by the Government of France, which was
begun with a disclaimer of all political or dynastic
designs ; that that war has subsequently taken upon
itself, and now distinctly wears, the character of a
European intervention to overthrow that domestic
a
by
republican Government, and to erect in its
European imperial despotism military force.
The United States, in view of the character of their
own political institutions, theirexi
co and their just in-
proximity and inti-
mate relations towardsff 3ai
of the American con-
fluence in the political a
to Ilia
accomplishment of
s
tiaent, cannot
by the
means described.
that purpose have therefore addressed them-
selves, as they think reasonably, to the Government
of France,
and have asked that its military forces
engaged in that objectionable political invasion may
desist from further intervention and be withdrawn
from Mexico. A copy of the last communication
upon the subject, which was addressed byes to the
Government of France, is herewith transmitted for
your special information. This
paper will give you
the true situation of the question. It will also enable
you to satisfy the Government of Vienna that the
United States must
be no less opposed to military
intervention for
political objects hereafter in Mexico
by the Government of Austria, than they are op-
posed to any further intervention of the same cha-
racter in that country by France. You will, there-
fore, at as early a day as may be convenient, bring
the whole case in a becoming manner to the attentionarcdesire
autho-
rised to state that the United States
and expedient sincerely
to come
non-intervention that Austria may find it just
ter in Mexico
united States, and to
upon the same ground of non-
which is maintained by the
which they have invited France.
Yoa will communicate
this to.
proposition us the answer of the
Austrian Government to
This Government could not _ b tit regard as a matter
of serious concern the despatch of. any troops from
Austria for Mexico while the subject which you are
present to the Austrian Govern-
thus directed to
ment remains under consideration.
I am, -sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) WILLIAM li. SEWARD.
To J. Lothrop Motley, Esq., Vienna.