The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-12
Our Foreign Policy.


how little reason we have to be proud OF our
last move in the Mexican game although, per-
hans, any proposition would seem respectable
after some that blot the recent pages of our
national diplomacy. The first orders looking
towards the removal of the French troops from
Mexico were issued on the 18th of October,
1865, in consequence of suggestion voluntarily
made by our Minister, Mr.. Bigelow, that the
United States would recognize the empire of
Maximilian, which was even then in q tottering
condition, so soon as the French had departed.
Mr., BigeIow afirms that the suggestion was
made upon his own esponsibility-althoug
how he could venture suggestion of such pro
found moment without Mr.. Stewards approval
incxplcable. He insisted that their departure
must precede recognition. In referring to hi
proposition in a letter to NJ Drouyn de Lhuys,
February T. 1866, Mr.. Bigelow said:-
81 asked whether in your ExSeilepSSys opinion ns3P
out the aid of France II his authority were recog-
nized by the United States. That inquiry led to
IN when nSa S GCsp 0r az GS t%e S
any Government in Mexico, SO long as IL was sus-
nSd 6y & rs1 ,s Tss RsP e
Mexico to be established by the Withdrawal of all
foreign soldiers before our Government could
Its existence to their presence"
This propos ition was made in the face of the
resolution of the Senate recognizing the Re.
public of Mexico, of the unanimous resolution
of the House of Representatives repudiating
Maximilian, and OF the almost unanimous sen IT,
ment of the American peOpe.
The President most properly dsapproved of
Dir. Bigelow's tender of recognition, but France
was informed that she might rely upon our
friendship and neutrality, and on the 9TH of
April 1866, NJ. Drouyn de Lhuys, referring to
Mr. Mr.. Stewards pledge &% OF &% intervention after ter
Marquis de Montholon that the Emperor had
decided that the troops should evacuate Mexico
in three detachments, 1 the hrst being intended to
1867, and the third in November of the same
year.
The Emperor was perfectly frank, not to say
blunt, In advising MIR. BigelOw of the motives of
his decision, and the freedom which he proposed
to exercise. On the 4th of June, Mr.. Bigelow
thus recites his conversation with the Minister
"He said that the Imperial Government pro-
claimed its intention to retire from Mexico, because
suited its convenience and interest to retire and
army within the time prescribed, and Il does not
intend TO take one or two hundred IN the first de-
tachment and two hundred in the second,
leaving the greater body of them to the last though
it had not deemed T necessary to specify with
hygienio and climatic influences of which 1t was the
best the only competent judge"
The explicit declaration on the part of the
Emperor of his intention to use his own discre-
ton, and his curt intimation to Mr.. Bigelow,
with but small excess of diplomatic courtesy,
that whatever he did in the matter was for his
own convenience, and not to please the United
States left no room for surprise at any change
he might find it advisable TO make in his
arrangements. Accordingly Mr.. Bigelow writes
to Mr.. Seward November s, 1866, that the Min
iste- of Foreign Affairs had informed him that
the Emperor thought any reduction of the
French force in Mexico might be perilous to
those who remained behind and he, therefore,
proposed instead OF bringing his army home by
detachments extending to November 1867, to
bring them all home together in the spring
of 1857.
This change, which on the face Of it was
breach of faith on the part of the EN-
peror, was deemed to be justified, as is now
alleged, by acts on the part of this Government
betTaying its purpose OF active Intervention.
AT any rate the new policy was affirmed to be
necessary on military grounds. The eSpedI-
tion had proved an utter failure. The Mexicans,
without even our moral aud, had rendered the
empire an mposslbility. All that remained for
Napoleon was to save what was left of his
army, and the collapse of the empire made 1t
essential that they should go together
The State Department however, thought
otherwise and with that extraordinary facility
for saying and doing the wrong thing at the
wrong time which Mr. Seward so constantly
exhibits, is resolved to offer parting insult to
the Emperor, to which, engaged as he was in
his Industrial Exposition, he might possibly
submit, and which, If he declined to accept it,
might afford, perhaps an apology for a foreign
quarrel. Accordingly, Mr.. Seward replies by
the cable, on the Esd of November, that the
Emperors modification of the previous arrange
Mexico for the present, instead of withdrawing
one detachment in November current as pro.
missed, is now found in every way inconvenient
and eXceptionable. We cannot acquiesce,' u
etc. And the reasons given why we cannot
acquiesce are that We have sent Mr.. Campbell
and General sherman to confer with President
Juarez on subjects which are deeply interesting
to the United States, and of vital importance
to Mexico. The despatch does not add, as
might have been expected, that we had also en-
ployed General Sheridan 10 intervene in the
domestic affairs of Mexico by arresting Or
teGa, the rival claimant of Juarez to the Pres
dency, on the preteuse that he was VIOLATING
our neutrality laws.
To this despatch, when read to him. the EN-,
peror listened in silence, and on Tuesday came
the reply by the cable that France has no
changed her resolution And this, accordinI
to the organ ofthe State Department, is so "per
fectly satisfactory" that that journal hastens Il
call upon the Tribune and other papers TO d
justice 10 ''the foremost OF American diploma
lists and statesmen
To do Justice to Mr.. Stewards diplomacy sine
the commencement of the Rebellion, when h
began his role by assuring Europe that we ha
no power 10 coerce insurrectiODarY members c
State-that slavery had nothing TO do with tn
Rebellion, and would continue just the sam
whether the revolution sholld succeed or fail
would be an irksome task. Some day we ma
possibly attempt it. In the meantime, let II
say that in one view Of the matter expressed b
Mr. seward, we are inclined, under eXistln
circumstances, to concur We quote from
despatch OF the 10th December, 1865. The ey
tract Is feuanslation from the French, as W
nave not the original at hand: but the Idea Is s
simple that lis full meaning has doubtless bee
pre5erYed:-
"Ibe Executive Department Of th,s Covern,oon
not the only one that is Interested in fhe 1nesto,
OF knSwing whether the present state of affairs is Il
continue IN Mexico. This interest is national also
aud at all events the Congress now sittino 10
ized by the Constitution to drect bV n IsS ~ Vi
action OF the United States on this importan