The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-06
NAPOLEON'S LETTER EXPLAINS MYSTERY Why He Permitted Troops to
 Remain in Mexico WILLING 10 WITHDRAW The Document Throws Light on the Purpose of the French Ruler In
 Keeping Troops In Mexico
 During Our Civil War
 
WILLING TO WITHDRAW

The mystery surrounding the purposes of Louis Napoleon. Emperor of France, in allowing many regiments of French troops to remain in Mexico in the civil war days after England and Spain had withdrawn, and the reasons for the final evacuation, are fully explained in letter from the Emperor to Gen. James Watson Webb which has been recently discov- cred. says the Boston Herald. The French Emperor states that he was drawn into the Mexican affair through Spain and the misdeeds of Juarez that It was much against his wishes that he should be required to conduct a cam paign in Mexico, and that he would With draw as soon as honor would permit. lie did not withdraw his troops in 1867.
 The United States government had been bringing pressure to bear on France to quit Mexico. and it was generally sup posed at the time that this pressure and a lack of desire on the part of Napoleon to conduct campaign against the Uni -ed States were responsible for the withdraw al but in his letter, written four years before, the Emperor said that he wished to leave the country at that time.
 The existence of this letter has iong been known. but diligent search has failed to bring it to light. Recently, however, Frank Edgerton Webb, the son of Gen eral webb. who was an editor and dlpio- mat in the confidence of Napoleon, fouhd it while going through number ot old papers in a chest which belonged to his father.
 Remarkable Letter.
 The letter follows
 Paris, May 22 1863.
 My Dear General: have received your letter of the Sth of March with the interesting note inelosed; after having read if I burnt it. such being your desire, and have not mentioned it to anyone. The questions treated by you are very ln- portant and very delicate. nevertheless l will reply to them with perfect frankness.
 You are greatly in error if you thlnk that ambition or coVetousness drew me to Mexico Drawn into this enterprise through Spain and through the misdeeds of the government of Jaurez l first sent against them 10000 men, the national hon. or having then been compromised, my forces were increased 5000 men; fnally, the check at Pueblo, involving the mlh- tary honor, I placed in the field SS,0oO men. It is very much against my wishes that I am compelled to carry on a cahlpaisn so far from France and 1t was not through any desire to acquire the mines of Souyea that my soldiers were in battle hut. now that the flag of France is In Mexico it Is hard to say just what the end will be. It is my desire, in any case to withdraw as soon as honor and the matters now at issue will permit.
 Did Not Want Quarrel
 nil tf seek a quarrel with me in this matter foi such a threat would bring about com nlete change in all my disinterested plans q profoundly regret the war which now desolates America, for l do not toreses the end and it is not for the interest ol i France to see the United States weakened | by a struggle without the best results l possible. In a country as sehsltlVe a' | America. it is not by force of arms tha disnutes and dissatisfactions should b' determined. but by votes, meetings ant | assemblies In Europe, also, we are hay | ing trouble. and grave questions nave t' 1 he solved With this object France needs ! the alliance of England. Therefore, an always turning my efforts to strengthe' the ties in spite of the antagonlsm or th' | English government.
 1 q have truthfully stated to you my DO sition. You will see that, in so doing, have recognized the frankness of you communication Be always persuaded my dear general, of the interest l oea to your country, and of the friendship and high esteem that I entertain for yol and your character. With these senti ments, I remain, yours most affeetionate ly. M NAT oi1i.o1, c'..I- 1,,
 A later letter was written from Biar ritz in September, 1863. which said; Mat ters in Mexico are causing much annoy | ance. All that I desire Is to see tn country paciiied, when I will withdraw , my troops" and this too, was writtel and signed by Napoleon,
 Confident of Napoleon.
 General Webb's connection with tn case is explained by the fact that in tn years in which Louis Napoleon was al ] exile in New York, before he became Elm peror the American general was one o his closest friends and that this friend shin remained strong in after years. Tn matter of the evacuation of Mexico wa placed in General Webbs hands, b, ] President Lincoln, it being understoo' that he should personally manage tn matter. and that 1t should not g 1 through the hands of the ambassadors 0 either country It is a probability tha the letter remained in the possession o President Lincoln for some time, and tha later General Webb was able to get i from the state department and place 1 l amoup his effects.