The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-07-11
NJ 10

| The FRAxco-MExGCAN AFEAIR- Washington Jlsas
22.-hfr Bigelow's dispatch to secretary Seward
iterates he had delivered several dispatches tbs
French minister fer foreign affairs who sad dat the
imperial government proclaimed its intention to retita
from Mexico because it suited its convenience and a-
terests to retire, and for no other reason When.
therefore, it was announced formally, not merely to
the United States but to the world, that tie aruy
would be withdrawn from Mexico within specified
time, lie thought it should be deemed sufficient The
government made its declaration in good faith and
means 20 keep it. 1t means to withdraw 'ts army
within he time prescribed and it does not intend tG
take one hundred or two hundred in the first dctaCh
ment and one hundred or two hundred in the second
leaving the great body of them to the last though u
had not deemed il necessary to specify with minute
ness details of this kind, which depend upon the by
genic consideration of which was the best and onF
competent Judge. This, his excelency said be
wished would say to government. / asked has
eEceltncy if had ever ntmated to him, whether ia
writing or otherwise any suspicion OF the emperoc3
intention to withdraw his army from Mexico in una-
qla Portions. He replied that had not. think /
asked im i any other person authorised to speak ~
the name Of my government bad done 50. lie SAID
no. but he had read imputatons of that kind iu one
OF our papers replied in substance that The press
was law unto ITSELF and that we had better not ac
eept il es a law unto US; and he asked to com
munichte to government formal answer to waas
sounded like an accusationof usncerty and bad faith
the part of the emperor, ] wanted his authority
for stating that such accusation had reached him
through any official channel He replied that ho only
had read it in a newspaper Then | went on to show
that tie purpose of your instruction, / understand
it, was simply to obtain explanation which was
to be required of you, of the shipment il France
of large bodies of troops to Mexico after the purpose
to withdraw the whole army had been officially pro
claimed. To this his exeellency replied that since
seeing me he had gotten from his colleagues q the
marine and departments, information to the puf
pose that no troops belonging to the corps expeditions
had been sent Mexico this year unless for the akn
of partly replacing soldiers missing. But, at any
rate, without augmentation OF the number OF stand
ing troops that the shipment of troops referred TO
tile public prints and in your dispatch likely
that made in the transport Rhone about the bcgiu-
ming Of the year; that the Rhone touched at Mar
Unique, but not at st. Thomas stated thai there
we're 9l6 ard not 1900 soldiers that they belonged
to foreign legion and the eNpeditionary corps
that they consisted Of troops which had been waiting
a long time in France and Algeria,
that troops had been enrolled for the foreign
legion since the emperor proclaimed his purpose 10
withdraw his flag from Mexico and that more, for
what be knew, were intended to be enrolled. In re-
gard TO the shipment of troops from Austria lie said
that was affair entirely between that governments
and Mexico with which France had nothing to dc;
that since had spoken to him on the subject lie mad
verified his convictions by a reference to minis
ters of and marine and had aScettaned that no
engagements of any sort had been entered into bv
either for the enrolment transportation OF troops
hom Austria to Mexico He went further 30 sa
that it the intention of the government With
draw the army entirely from Mexico, within the time
specified in his dispatch to you at the very least soon
e% if climate and other controlling influences permit
ted and it not its intention replace them WITH
troops from any quarter At the conclusion of long
of which have given the important re-
su expressed my satisfaction with his excelIencya
ypanations and the pleasure / should have in com
them to my government. This dispatch
mas been submitted to NJ. Drouyn de rHuys aud the
oregoing version of the results of the conversation
las been approved by him.