Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-27
TH FEDERAL RELATIONS WITH
FRANCE.
From the New York Times

tn FEDKRAL RELATIONS WITH
RRANCE.
From the New York Tlmesl
WASHINGTON, December Sour relations
with France have become so important that
yen win be interested in some details Of infor
nation which may throw light upon tbs probs-
bic motives and Intentions of the Emperor TO-
ward this country.
| You have alrasdy seen Mr.. Dayton's dispatch
| to Mr.. Seward. dated November 7, in which NJ
/ Drouyn dc rHuys, the new Minister of foreign
affairs, is reported to have said TO him on that
/ day that no action was in contemplation by
| France, or by France conformity with foreign
powers, in reference to the condition of things
in the United States, but that everything re-
msined as it had do0e for some time past.
! And you can bsTdly have omitted to observe
that this was in fat contradiction with the fact
| inasmuch as the French dispatch to England
and Russia, sigued by Drouyn De THuys him
self, was dated October 25th, and had ben for
some days in the possession Of the English and
Russian governments when the minister denied
to Mr. Dayton that any sach note had been
written In that same dispatch Mr. Dayton
states that be put the QUESTION still more ex-
pEcitly-'aYing that he had q se3n it stated that
France, England aad Russi. were confeuing
upon the prOPrloiy Of offering mediation to
which NJ. Dr0uyn de rHuys replied that al
though the Emperor wished that something
could be done toward ending the war, nothing
had been resolved upon" This was November
9th, when that no.o, proposing mediation, had
bsen resolved upon" written and sent ten days
before.
Mr.. Dayton's latest published dispatch to
Mr.. Seward is ths one referred to above. We
have, therefore, from the State Department no
explanation of the motives which led the French
Minister thus to misead Mr.. Dayton by an aver
ment the reverse of the truth. l believe dipls-
matists generally reserve to themselves the
Tight-.o lie if they can thereby serve their
countIy-but they always have a motive for
doing it. The motive in this case think can
supply.
On the 9th of November, the dsy when Mr..
Dayton asked this question, neither the British
nor Russian cabinet had decided how TO receive
and treat the application of the Emperor Il
the fact Of the Rpplic lion should come to Mr.
Dsyton's knowledge before their decision had
been reached, he wspld undoubtedly have done
all in his power to influence it, and to cheek
mate the attempted negotiation.
1t became important, therefore, for the French
minister's purposes, to conceal from Mr.. Dayton
the fact that any such proposal had been made
and he took the most direct, indeed the only
means Of conceaiug it when the question was
put to him-that of distinct and explicit de-
nial
The Ilth of November wes the day fixed
upon by the British Cabinet to decide on the ar
mistice dispatch On that day N. Dtouyn De
plays svowed its existence te Mr.. Dayton, and
read It to him, and two days after he published
it in the MOHitsur. At this interview the French
minister did not wait to be questioned. He en-
tered frankly and fully into explanations of the
dispatch, assuring him that it was not to be re-
garded as in any sense q hostile measure.
He said it was expected that if the pIoposa
foy an armistice should be accepted, the South
erH ports were to be open to trade-gIving the
impression that this was the leading motive for
seeking the armisliee at all; aud in reply to a
question from Mr. Dayton as to Whistler France
would pursue the matter further in case Russia
aud England should decline the proposal, NJ
/ Drouyn de THuys said that, in his Opin on.
and 50 far as he knew, she would not, but as be
had not seen the Emperor since they had learn
| ed that those powers would probably decline it,
he could not say with any confidence what his
MsjsEty's intentions were.
/ You may rely upon these statements as true.
They do not indicate very clearly, perhaps, the
/ purposes or motives of the French Emperor in
/ proposing the armistice. But they give color
| TO what ! know is the opiniCa in diplomat
circles on that point, and which was expressed
in an editorial article in the Times a few days
/ since. KNOW tuAt the English and Russian
| legations regard it as a movement of domestic
politics on the EmperOr's part. The suffering
among the lsboring classes had become intense.
1t was popularity charged to the American war,
and has led to a renewed attempt upon the En-
psror's life. 1t became important, therefore, for
Napoleon to give the people of Francs some evil
dence that he was doing what he could to re-
move the cause of their suffering, and this pro-
posal for armls,ice, involving the reopening
of trade with the Southern ports, was the means
he adopted for the accomplishment Of that end
The London papers, and especially the Times
seek to create the Impression that Napoleon''
motive in this proposal was to strengthen the
South, and thus promote a division of tbs
Union. If that had clearly been his wish, Eng
land would have sssented to the Proposition. J.
was because she did not feel sure en- that pcn
that she declined it. I think can assure you
on good authority, that in all these Tesotia
tiODs-cerlaniy up to the date of tie lates
dispatches received at the State deJartment-
France has indicated moEe than a willingness t.
admit the reconstruetion Of the Union under tht
armistice; that it is no part Of her purpose, a.
it is in no in her inteTegt, to contribute t
q destruction of the URiOn, and that her sol
object was the restoration If American trade snC
the relief Of her own peor without regard TO lh'
internal politics Of the United States. The Brit
ish cabinet have no confidence in Napoleon.
intentions, and viii enter into no alliance witt
either France OF Russia, by which tbs recon
strucIion Of tie Union may be brought about