The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-10
IMPORTANT FROM FRANCE.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE AMERICAN MINISTER
AND THE FRENCH MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS.

Correspondence New York Times.
PARIS, Thursday, April Is, 1861.
The American Minister at Paris, Mr..
Faulkner, has just had an official interview
with the French Minister of Foreign
Affairs, M. Thouvenel, on the subject of the
recognition of the Southern Oonfederacy.
At this interview, if we are correctly in
formed, Mr.. Faulkner went in obedience to
the State Department at Washington, to
carry a copy Of the Presidents Inaugural
Address, to officially announce the Access
sion OF the new government at Washington,
and to represent to M. Thouvene the line
of policy the new government intended to
adopt, so far as their policy was decided
upon.
Mr.. Faulkner informed the Minister that
he was instructed to say that the Presidents
policy was to be found IN the Inaugural
Address in full; but in briet, on the question
of recognition of the Southern Confederacy,
the President held that there was no fat
accompi as yet, and that to recognize the
Confederacy under the present state of
things, would be not only illegal, but an
act OF bad faith to a friendly power, DESTROYS
and anxious of settling its own internal
affairs in its own way. Mr.. Faulkner also
developed before the Minister the able views
OF the question which he had before uttered,
and which have been already published in
the lines, and finished by protesting in the
most solemn manner against any recognition
of the Southern Confederacy until the new
Minister, MIR. Dayton, should arrive. Mr..
Faulkner said, in substance:
This is the last time, most probably, I
shall have the honor of communicating off,
| cially with your Excellency on this or any 9TH
er subject, as leave for my home in short
time, and wish now to protest most energetic
cally, in the name of my Government, against
any recognition of the new American COnfed-
eracy, until at least my successor, q gentleman
OF great ability and high personal worth, and
who will naturally come prepared to present
to you the views Of the Government at Wash.
ington, shall have arrived"
NJ. Thouvenel then demanded to know if
the Cabinet at Washington were not divi-
ded in sentiment on this question of recog.
milton? To which the American Minister
replied that under any circumstances the
members of the American Cabinet were
only advisory officers, and that with the
President remained the initiative and the
responsibility of public acts such as these.
That these were the Presidents views, and
that these alone were to be taken as guides
in diplomatic transactions.
M. Thouvenel then said that the Gov
eminent of the United States need not
have any apprehension of speedy recog-
milton OF the Southern Confederacy by the
Government of France. 1t was not the
habit of the FreHch Government to act
hastily in questions of so delicate nature.
He pointed out the case of Italy, where ap-
parently there could be no special objection
to the recognition, and yet from prudential
motives the recognition was withheld. The
French Government, added NJ. Thouvenel,
sees the present dissension in America with
pain, and not only would desire to see the
broken elements united, but would never
step 10 by any act whatever to widen the
division or add fuel to the flames.
At the same time M. Thouvenel said that
he practice of France, as indeed of most
OF the European Powers, was now clearly
understood In these cases of recognition Of
new governments. A Government once
clearly established beyond dispute was a
government de tacto, and must be recogniz.
ed, and when the new American Govern.
ment arrived at that point, he presumed al.
though he had no right now to prejudice
the future, it would be recognized.
M. ThOuvenel then demanded informa.
ton on the subject of the new tariff. which
be said so deeply affected French confer
ence. Mr.. Faulkner Informed him that
from indications from Washington he be.
lleved there would be an extra session of
Congress, and that the tariff would be mod
ihed-a declaration which gave the Foreign
Secretary great satisfaction, and induced
him to say to Faulkner that al the next
meeting OF the cabinet he would be pleased
to report this hope to the Emperor and his
colleagues in the Government.
Mr.. Thouvenel assured Mr.. Faulkner
that up to the present time he had not
been spoken to by any one on the subject
OF recognition of the Southern Confeder.
acy.