The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-10

10 his eXceency
The MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS
OF the Mexican republic
The undersigned, Secretary OF State OF the United
States has had the honor 10 receive the communication
OF his excellency the minister OF foreign affairs of the
Mexican republic dated on the 3is OF August in answer
to the proposition made by the undersigned to the Mex
can government in his note of the 9th July last thai
negotiations shall forthwith commence for the coneu,
son OF peace just and honorable for both parties"
This NJ declared, in express terms, that il was the
desire Of The President TO conclude treaty of peace
which shall adjust all the questions in dispute between
the two republics" These questions had all existed be-
fore Mexico commenced hosttes, and TO adjust these
questions was the avowed object OF the proposed nego-
haton. II Is, then, with little establishment that the
President has perceived from the communication OF his
eXceency that the Mexican government had so far mis-
apprehended the meaning OF the undersigned to sup
pose that this government either desired intended to
withdraw from the negotiations for peace the causes on
either side, which led 10 the existing war; and consider
them merely thing that is past and belongs TO his
tory" Very far from IT, This would have been to aban-
don the Just and acknowledged claims OF our injured cit
zens for violations OF their personal liberty and seizures
OF their property, continued throughout many successive
years and which, in the opinion OF President Jackson,
eyes of all nations, immediate war"
his mlsaIprehenson the part OF the Mexican gov
eminent appears the more remarkable il infer
ence drawn BY them from that part OF the note of the I'M
dersgned most concllaory in its character In this note
which was intended preliminary to the opening
OF negotiations, il desirable TO avoid all irritating
topics For this reason the language employed was Ia
me present communication it is deemed useless, and it
might prove injurious 10 discuss the of the exist
ing war This might tend 10 delay defeat the restora
ton OF peace The past already consigned to history
the future under Providence, is within own power"
And yet il lis from this last sentence disconnected from
all which pecedes il, that the Mexican government have
inferred disposition the part of the government of the
United States to AVOID, IN the progress OF the negotiation
the discussion OF the questions out OF which the orr
gInaed Ii is most certain that such disposition exists
and the undersigned feels assured that he need add nothing
more 10 convince the Mexican government that in this
particular they have placed construction up
on his language.
performed his duty, the President will now await with
patience and with hope the final decision OF the Mexican
government
In making this overture thus early, he was in no small
degree influenced by the considerations that the longer the
shall last the greater will be the difficulty Of con-
GLIDING satisfactory peace, account of the heavy in
creased expenditure which its continuance will render in
dispensabe He WILL however hold himself always rea-
dy TO terminate il upon principles of impartial Justice.
Having, IN the first instance used all proper efforts TO
avoid hostltes and having proposed TO open nego-
tons for the conclusion of Just and honorable peace
nothing is left for him but 10 acduesce in the decision
communicated by your excellency that, until changed by
the act OF the Mexican Congress, the relations between
the two countries will remain in the state in which
they found by his eXcellency the commander-in-
chief of the berang army, when he took charge of the
executive power of the natlon In the attitude thus
sumed by Mexico the United States can appeal to the
whole world that no alternative remains for them but to
prosecute the with ygor, until the disposition which
they have sgnay manifested TO bring to speedy
termination shall be met by corresponding sentiment on
the part of Mexico and the negotiation which they have
invited shall be brought TO happy conclusion
The undersigned ayas himself of the present occasion
TO offer TO his eXcellency the minister of foreign affairs of
the Mexican republic the assurance of his most dstn-
guished consideration.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, Goth September 1916