Norwich bulletin., 1921-06-30
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
MEXICO AND NAPOLEON

The present troubles in Mexico recall strikingly the disturbed condition in that country shortly after the civil war. On October S1 1S61 Great Britain, France and Spain united in a tripartite agreement for a joint military expedition, avowedly to enforce the claims of and secure protection to their subjects, in which they expressly disavowed any in- tention to secure territory or coerce the nation respecting the form of govern ment, and they sent a combined naval and military force to Vera Cruz.
 The United States was asked to become party to the agreement and expedition, but MT. Seward declined and in guarded language stated that the United States could not enter upon warlike measures to enforce claims against it's neighbor, nor could it consent that any foreign gov ernment should acquire territory in Mex ico or exercise any influence to iaterf Ire with the free choice of the people.
 In few months the British and Span ish discovered the real designs of Ma poleon and withdrew from the country, leaving the French alone in Mexico to pursue their plans. The Emperor Ma pollen gave assurence to our government in June 1882, after the rupture with his allies, that"the French troops do not go there to interefer with the form of gov ernment, nor to acquire an inch of terri tory, and that his only object was to se- cure French claims, and he repeated this assurance Iconstantly during the foiA lowing three years.
 The French force had a comparatively free hand during the Civil war, althouga our government continued it's relations with 3uarez as the lawful president, and finally and steadily declined to re- cognize the so-called Emperor Max;mil- ian, who had been placed on throne and supported by French bayonets.
 But when the Civil war was happily terminated a large army of observation under General Sheridan, was dispatched to the Rio Grande frontier prepared for such action as the circumstances might determine. General Grant favored the expulsion of the French troops from Mexico without delay. but MT. Seward felt sure that a temperate but firm in- sistence upon our position maintained during the war would accomplis; the desired end and his representation, l through our minister in Paris led 10 tht assurance by Napoleon that his troop! would be withdrawn, and this was grad ually accomplished without a break 1T our relations with France. Maximilian | left to himself was soon overthrown by the Mexican republican troops, and h. deservedly paid the penalty with his If, 1 for his attempt at the establishment O monarchy on this continent by force 1 Repeated attempts which had beer made by MaXimilian to obtain the recog milton of the United States resulted il i failure. Recruiting offices on behalf 0 the Mexican republic immediately afte
 the civil war were opened in New Yorl and other American cities. Report
 reached Mexico that Juarez had succeed
 ed in raising large loan in North Amer | ica. Admiral Cloue in command of tn French gulf squadron, complained tha United States war vessels offered pro
 lection to the Junarists.
 Finally Maximilan issued his notoPl
 ous decree known as Bando Negro, i
 which all armed republicans were pro