The New York herald., 1864-05-27


Osr rel sssons wien i4Sacs. Z /,
The oficIal statement In the-Paris Monstesr
that Secretary Seward had disayowed and an
nounced hh Intention to disregard the reso-
luton passed by Congress In regard to the
occupation Of Mexico by the French has ex
cited considerable comment both at home and
abroad. In the diplomatic correspondence
published yesterday the whole matter Is very
clearly and satisfactorily explained. Both
Secretary Seward aud Minister Dayton deserve
great deal of credit for the ability with which
they have avoided any embarrassments In our
present relations with France. while giving no
guarantees that we will not Interfere to settle
the Mexican imbroglio hereafter.
II appears from this correspondence that
Napoleon was very much troubled at the
unanimous adoption Of the resolution Of Con-
gress IN opposition to the recognition Of
monarchy in Mexico. When Mr.. Dayton called
upon N. Drouyn de Lhuys he was met by the
curt and emphatic inquiry do you bring us
peace or bring us warf" This insnuation that
France would consider any interference with
her plans in Mexico as tantamount to decla-
ration Of war was very promptly answered by
Mr.. Dayton, who explained that the resolution
merely embodied the unanimous sentiments Of
the American people; that these sentiments
had already been made known to the French
government, and that this reassertion
of them by Congress was no proof
Of any immediate intention upon the
part Of the United States to engage
in war with France. The French Minister
listened atten.lvely to these remarks, but "sb-
viously received the resolution as a serious
step" taken by tie American government.
The secessionists abroad were highly delighted
at the prospect Of foreign war, and Mr. Mason
posted to Brussels and Mr.. Slidell made ready
to 60 to Austria to foment the intrigue.
In the meantime Secretary Seward sen. a
despatch to Minister Dayton, in which he de-
clared that, while the resolution in question was
correct Interpretation Of the feeling of our
people. and while the President received the
declaration of Congress with profound respect,
yet the putting Of that resolution into practice
was an act Of the Executive, and not of Con-
gress, and that the Executive "does not at pre-
sent contemplate any departure from the policy
which this government has hitherto pursued in
regard to the war .,hich exists between France
and Mexico" and that "the French would be
seasonably apprised Of any change upon this
subject" Upon hearing this despatch read
M. Drouyn de Lhuys expressed his gratlca.
tion;" and Mr.. Dayton adds that "the extreme
sensitiveness which was manifested by this gov.
ernment when the resolution Of the House Of
Representatives was first brought to its know
ledge has, to a considerable extent, subsidized
This ends the correspondence, and leaves the
whole question exactly where II was before.
The force of the explanations offered to the
French government evidently lies entirely in
the words Eat present" To undertake to
drive France from Mexico sat present would
be worse than folly. We must be satisfied to
do one thing at a time. When the rebellion is
subdued, as it soon must be, then we shall be.
gin to settle our accounts with France The
resolution passed by Congress was simply a
notice OF our future intentions. So the French
regarded it after the first sensitiveness aud
alarm had subsided, and 30 long as no immedi
ate hostilities arc commenced Napoleon is con-
tent. He is already Withdrawing his soldiers
from Mexico. The letter of our Havana cor.
respondent informs us that shipioad of them.
en- route for France, stopped there recently.
Shrewdly calculating upon our neutrality "at
present." the French Emperor intends to let
Macmillan take care OF himself when our
civil war is over. We are very glad that he
has followed our advice upon this point; but
unless he hurries off his troops more quickly
he will yet be caught in the Mexican trap.
His obvious alarm at the resolution of Con-
gress justifies us in believing that he will re-
double his exertions to escape from this
dilemma. Napoleon knows az we'll NJ we do
that, whatever may be the policy Of the United
States eat present" the triumphant vindcaton
of the Monroe doctrine is one Of the inevitable
certaintes Of the future.