Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-03
Our ReIations with France.
A Washington correspondent of the New
York Tribpne writes:

A Washington correspondent Of theNew
York Tribune writes:
"If am correctly informed, the French
Government has decided to act alone in
the matter, and 10 offer TO the President Of
the United States the same proposition
which has been made to England and Rus
sia, trusting to his judgment to pronounce
upon its merits and its practicability.
That document will be accompanied by q
letter from Drouyn de Lhuys, stating in
substance that the Emperor believes the
proposition Of an armlstioe an act in no
way injurious TO the interest and honor Of
the United States, but on the contrary,
eminently useful that it is not his inten-
tion 10 press it upon the Federal Govern
ment, which alone can determine the time
when the friendly office. of France may be
accepted; but that the President must be
aware that any protracted refusal Of her
offers would neeessitate the Emperor to lis
ten to the Southern representatives whose
propositions for recognition have hitherto
been rejected, because he has always en-
terteined the hope Of seeing our difficult
ties smicably settled, and the Union re-
stored. The official communication will
conclude by stating that the French Gov
ernment expects- sha6-sEr. Hfu1Ofu Will
maturelv consider the peculiar situation in
which It IS placed, and also take into con-
sideration the uses and customs established
in the cases referred to in his proposition
by writers on international law.
"Such, am informed, is the sense Of the
letter to be forwarded to Washington in
the course of month or so, together with
the proposition for mediation already pre-
sented to England and Russia. l am dis
posed to credit this information, inasmuch
as several chambers Of commerce in
France have expressed in their addresses
to the Emperor the hope that the noble
and humane project Of mediation" in Amer
lean affairs would not be abandoned. On
the other hand, the wants and destitution
Of the French working class have become
so pressing that they cannot fail to have
an influence upon the mind of the Emperor
and confirm him in his project Besides,
the ides Of seeing the Emperor persevere,
alone and without the cooperation Of other
nations, in becoming the arbiter in our
difficulties has something in it which
.fatters the vanity of the French people I;
and Louis Napoleon is too adroit to miss
the opportunity of adding to his populari-
ty by step which in his estimation and
that of his friends does not fix his policy
nor compromise in the least his relations
with the United States. dad.
"It is rumOred in social circles where
the influence of diplomacy is felt, that the
way IN which the Communication Of the
Emperor will be received by our Govern
manf daDauds in qorna ro1nar roo1 4ba
course he will hereafter pursue toward the
South. It is not believed, however, that
he will allude to this matter on the first of
the year, but that he will carry his plan
through the usual channels of diplomacy,
and with the same urbanity and apparent
friendship which have marked all his re-
lations with us since the beginning Of cur
struggle"