Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-12-07
OUR RELATIONS WITH FRANCE ON rHr
MEXl0AN or GRT ION -

A considerable amount Of correspondence
between the State Department and our MIN.
lister at Paris, MIR. Bigeiow, accompanies the
PRESIDENTS message. and has just been pub.
hsned 1t comment es as far back as May la ST.
and at that period relates to the projected tor
wsrding of Austrian volunteers to Mexico, TO
serve In Maximilian's army. the abandonment
OF ,nat PROJECT GA protest from the United
States, and also relates to con versations and
understandings with Drouyn de rHuys as 10
certain french troops then being sent ont being
only 70 replace some whose terms had expired,
ana that the evacuation would commence ma
November Notwithstanding as thew were only
TOO glad TO withdraw, &c.
A letter from Mr.. Seward, of August 10Th, is
gwen, addressed TO Count MonthoIou the
Frensh minister at Washington presenting the
fact that Macmillan had appointed the Frenc
General Osmond to the head of the War De-
partment In Mexico, and Mr.. Fuant to the
treasury, as Inconsistent with the engagement
OF Napoleon to withdraw, and not unlikely 10
lnJure the good relations between he United
States and France.
=, me correspondence incluses letter from
Mr. Seward TO Minister Bigelow, dated Der
eth, expressing the distrust OF the people of
ms country regarding the proposition of the
Emperor 10 withdraw the French forces with.
In the coming year, instead Of in three semi.
annual detachments. rs at first proposed nut
arcIarlng tnat Ems government expected a full
spirit
On the 10Th OF October Mr. B,gelow writes
70 the State Department OF the first reception Of
the new French Minister. who expressed homes
that official relations were not to be termina
ted, and stated that the relations of France to
TIE United States would not undergo change
on account of any change in his Department
He announced at the same time that as soon as
he was up in American affairs he desired a
turner conversation with Mr.. Bigelow, but
Tor the present be could say that the En- peror
had expressed to him recently a desire to re.
tire from Mexico as soon as possible, and with.
OUT reference to the period fixed In the con-
aIs
psror counted upon the aid OF the United States
70 disembarrase France from her delicate no.
sluon, which MT. Bigelow construed to mean
rather forbearance than active cooperation
from the United States. In conclusion, Mr..
Blfelow mentions receiving information of
the signing Of contract by the French gov
ernment with the Franc Mexican line Of
steamers for the repatriation Of all the French
army in March next. r..
~ The rex, paper in the budget is letter Of
pointment to Mexico, dated October 10th, 1854.
advising him of the explicit arrangement be.
tween this country and France, that the forces
Der, 1850, March, 1866, and November, 1867.
and that upon the evacuation France would
come upon the ground OF non intervention as
Isgards MEXICO, as held by the United States.
Emperor would fulfil his engagement as
nearly as possible, and says:J.'There are
grounds for suPPosing that two incidental
ton OF the French Government. First
Whether 1t should ad wise the de parture of the
Prince Macmillan for Austria to be made be-
lore the withdrawal Of the French expedition.
Secondly; whether il would not be better 70
withdraw the whole force at once" These
doubts, however, had not been officially
brought to Mr.. Stewards notice.f Anticipating
the probability that the whole French force
would be withdrawn at or about the same
time as the first OF November installmsnt Mr.,
Seward writes :-sSuch an event cannot fail
to produce a crisis Of great political interest in
the republic Of Mexico. 1t is important that
you should be either within the territories of
that republic or in some place near at hand, SO
as to ass ume the exercise of yonr fupctions as
Minister Of the United States to the Republic
of Mexico -.