Mobile register and journal., 1846-12-18
T1RAHsLATED
NATIONAL PALACE, MEXICO, }
 AupttsI 3I. 1916.

NATloNAL fALACE, MbAtcO,(
 August 3l, 1916. {
 SIR, The undersigned. Minister oc Foreign Re- Llions of the Mexican republic, has submitted to his excelency he general nchiei of the lbsraling army charged nd interim with ihe supreme executive pow or of the nation, your eNceency's note of the 27h nl the past month of July, in which you propose on the part oi v0ur government, tO open negotiations which may tend to ihe conclusion of Il peace, just and honorable 10 boih countries.
 His excelIency on being made acquniated with the terms of sad note, could not but fix his attention strongy on the circumstance thar refusing discus- sion upon lhe ol ihe existing between the two republics, il Is desired at present To consider those merely as thing thai is past, and be- longs to his For the executive to accept such d propositions on that basis, when dealing with sub ect that the honor of the country and the inegrIty oiS territory, and endangers it's nationality for the future, would be waive the que of it's justice, and complete inc irritation of public opn- ion already highly alarmed, as is proved by the dis- cussons which have taken place the subject through fear that the question might receive the so- luiion suggested. Thus it is that lhe affairs of the republic, having been brought, by those same causes to the situation in which they now are in re- gard to the United States, il hus been necessary 10 call upon lhe nation, in order, that through repie- seniatives elected with lhe fullest berty her fate
 may be dehbersed upon, her security, her honor and her future welfare provided for. A congress having been conyoked for this object, which W ill commence It's session on the 9th of December next as that body will change itself, among other important matters, , with all that relates to the war with the U. States 10 il will the above mentioned note from vour ex : ceency he submitted, order, that i may determine upon what shall judge to be proper for the interests of the nation. The government oi the undersigned in consequence awaits the determination of the as. sembly iH order to give the becoming answer 10 the essential part of the said communication, the rela- tions of Mexico with your republic remaining mean- while m tho same state m which his excellency the .. l..,E~t sI.. II. when he assumed the charge of the executive power of the nation.
 The undersigned, in transmitting this answe' of his government, despatchDg il to your excellency through the channel which you indicate, avas him. self ol this opportunity To assure you of his distin-
 MANUEL CRESCENCIo REJoN. To his exceency the MINISTER OF FOREIGN RE-
 LATIoEs of the United States of America.
 To his excellency
 THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS,
 oi the Mexican republic
 The undersigned, Secretary of State of the Unit. ed States, has had the honor to receive the commu- ncation of his excellency, the minister of foreign affairs of the Mexican republic, dated on the 3lst of Angus in answer 10 the proposition made by the undersigned to the Mexican government, in his note of the 2Ih oi July last. that negotiations sha forthwith commence for the conclusion of d peace just and honorable for both partIes."
 Ihs note declared in express terms, that it was the desire of the President ''to conclude treaty of peace, which shall adjust all lhe questions in spute between the two countries" These questions had all existed before Mexico had commenced hostli- ties, and to adjust these questions was the avowed object 0i the proposed negO ation lt Is then with no liule astonishmenl that the President has per- ceiyed from the communication of his excellency, that the Mexican government had so far misappre- hended the meaning of the undersigned as to sup that this aif to withdraw from the negotiations of peace the cau- ses on either side, which led to the existing war, and 10 consider them merely 'thing that is past and belongs to history" Very far from it. This would have been to abandon the just and acknowl l. edged claims of our injured citizens for violation of tIer personal liberty and seizures of their property, continued throughout many successive years, and which, In the opinion of President Jackson, so long ago as February. 1887, would have justified '' in the eyes oi all nations, immediate war l"
 This mlsapprehenslon on thep part of the Mexican government appears the more remarkable as il is an inference drawn by them from that part of the nole ol Ibe under signed most conciiatory in it's character. In this note, which was intended as mere preliminary to the opening of negotiations, il was desrable to avoid all irritating topics. For this reason the language employed was :"Ln the present communication It IS deemed useless, and il mi Int proved injurious, 10 discuss the causes of he st- ing war. This might tend 10 delay or defeat the restoration oi peace. The past is all eady consigned to history; the future, under Providence, is within our power." And yet il is from ihIs last seuteuce disconnected from all which precedes il, that the Mexlcan government have inferred disposition on the part oi lhe gove of the United States 10 avoid tn tue progress of the negotiation the dscus- sion ol he questions of which the war mat ed. ltls most certain thai no such disposilo ex. ists and the undersigned feels assured that he need add nothing moie Co convince the Mexican govern menl, that ln this particular, they have placed an efroneous construction upon his language.
 Conscious that in making the overture for peace he has performed his dufy, the Pres ident i'll now awa with patience and with hope the final decision of the Mexican g0ver erunlent.
 In making thus overture thus early, he was in no small degree influenced by ihe snsideration, that the longer the war shall last the greater will be the dhculty oi concluding satisfactory peace, on ac count o the heavy increased expenditure which it's continuance will render indispensable. He will however, hold himself always ready io terminate il upon pnpciples of impartial justice. Having, in the first instance, used all proper efforts 10 avoid hosilliiies, and having now proposed to open nego tatons for the conclusion of just and honorable peace, nothing is left for him but 10 acquesce in the decision communicated bv your excellency, thai, until changed by the act of the Mexican Congress the relations between the two countries will remain ' m lhe same state in which they fnund by his sxcelency the commander iu chief of the beratnp | army, when he took charge of the executive power ot the nailon." In the attitude thus assumed by | meNlco, thc Ohfteu states can appeal 10 the whole world that no alternative remains for them but to | prosecute the war with vigor, until the disposition which they have signav manifested to bling it | l0a speedy termination shall be mel by corres- peonding sentiment on the part of Mexico, and the negotiation which they have invited shall be brought Q u happy conclusion.
 The undersigned avails himself of the present oc. asion 10 offer to hIs exceency the minister of for ign affairs of the Mexican republic the assurance 'i his most distinguished csns iteration.
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