In instructions given to Mr. Corwin, minister to Mexico, April 6, 1861, Mr. Seward stated that the actual condition of affairs in Mexico was so imperfectly understood in Washington that the President found it difficult to give him particular and practical directions. Information had been received that President Juarez had overthrown his adversaries and established his government at the capital, and that he had been chosen as President at an election lately held, but there were other rumors to the effect that his government was unable to maintain order, that robberies were frequent on the highroads, and that even a member of the American legation had been murdered on his way from the City of Mexico to Vera Cruz. If the last-mentioned occurrence should prove to be true, Mr. Corwin was informed that it would be regarded as a high offense against the dignity and honor of the United States, and would prove a severe shock to the sensibilities of the American people. As to claims, he was not to put them forward for the present, but he was to keep the Mexican government in mind of the fact that such of them as should be found to be just would in due time be presented and urged upon its consideration. The performance by the United States of its duty to "reason" with the government of Mexico was, said Mr. Seward, embarrassed by the occurrence of civil commotions in our own country, by which Mexico, in consequence of her proximity, is not unlikely to be affected." Both governments must "address themselves to this new and annoying condition of things, with common dispositions to mitigate its evils and abridge its duration as much as possible.” Mr. Corwin was, however, advised that the President would not suffer the representatives of the United States to engage in any discussion of the merits of its domestic difficulties in the presence of foreign powers, but he was to assure the government of Mexico that those difficulties had not arisen out of any deep and permanent popular discontent, and that the President believed that the people of the United States would speedily and in a constitutional way adopt all necessary remedies for the restoration of the public peace and the preservation of the Federal Union. Peace, order, and constitutional authority, in each and all of the American republics were, said Mr. Seward, "not exclusively an interest of any one or more of them, but a common and indispensable interest of them all." The President was, moreover, satisfied that the safety, welfare, and happiness of the United States would be more effectually promoted if Mexico should retain its complete integrity and independence, than if any part of its territory should be transferred to another power, even though that power should be the United States itself. It was understood, said Mr. Seward, that the ability of the government and people of Mexico to preserve and maintain the integrity and the sovereignty of the republic might be much impaired, under existing circumstances, by hostile or unfriendly action on the part of the United States. The President would therefore use all proper influence to favor the restoration of order and authority in Mexico, and, so far as might be in his power, prevent incursions or any other form of aggression by citizens of the United States against Mexico. The Mexican government had lately complained of an apprehended attempt to invade the State of Sonora by citizens of the United States. Mr. Corwin was to assure the Mexican government that effective means would be adopted to put the neutrality laws of the United States into activity, and that due attention would be given to the preservation and safety of the peaceable inhabitants residing along the border. It was hoped that equal attention would be given to this subject by the authorities in Mexico. Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. Corwin, min. to Mexico, No. 2, April 6, 1861, Dip. Cor. 1861, 49. October 31, 1861, France, Great Britain, and Spain entered into a convention with reference to combined operations against Mexico for the enforcement of claims. They agreed that they would not, in the employment of measures of coercion, make any acquisition of territory, or take any particular advantage, or exercise in the domestic affairs of Mexico any influence incompatible with its political independence; and, in order that their proceedings might not seem to have an exclusive character, they also agreed to communicate a copy of the convention of the United States and invite that government to accede to it. Hostile operations were begun in May, 1862, but before that time things took an unfavorable turn in consequence of the French having extended protection to General Almonte and other leading men of the Reactionary party who had been banished from the country. On this question of the intervention of the French in the domestic affairs of Mexico the concert of the powers was destroyed. The United States had declined to join them in coercive measures; and as Great Britain and Spain refused to accede to the policy of intervention, France was left to pursue alone the way that led to the attempt and disastrous failure to establish an alien monarchy in Mexico. Moore, Int. Arbitrations, II. 1289-1291, where the details of the intervention are given; Maximilian in Mexico, by Sara Yorke Stevenson; British & For. State Papers, vols. 51, 52, 53, and 54, and pages indicated in the indexes to the various volumes. Certain Mexican bonds, issued on Sept. 1, 1865, known as the Woodhouse issue, were declared by the Mexican government at the time of their issue to be fraudulent and unauthorized. A full report on the subject is in For. Rel. 1878, 624 et seq. (Mr. Hill, Assist. Sec. of State, to Mr. Moss, Jan. 11, 1900, 242 MS. Dom. Let. 217.) 5. LATER RELATIONS. $ 861. For some years after the withdrawal of the French from Mexico the peace of the latter country continued to be interrupted by domestic contentions. These were attended with serious border troubles, which at times impaired the good relations between Mexico and the United States and gave rise to troublesome questions. The acute stage of the difficulties was passed in 1877. Supra, §§ 222, 223. See the following documents: Relations with Mexico: Texas border troubles and extradition, report of Protection of the Rio Grande frontier: reports of Committees on Military "The record of the last fifteen years must have removed from the minds of the enlightened statesmen of Mexico any possible lingering doubt touching the policy of the United States toward her sister republic. That policy is one of faithful and impartial recognition of the independence and the integrity of the Mexican nation. At this late day it needs no disclaimer on our part of the existence of even the faintest desire in the United States for territorial extension south of the Rio Grande. The boundaries of the two republics have been long settled in conformity with the best jurisdictional interests of both. The line of demarkation is not conventional merely. It is more than that. It separates a Spanish-American people from a SaxonAmerican people. It divides one great nation from another with distinct and natural finality. The increasing prosperity of both Commonwealths can only draw into closer union the friendly feeling, the political sympathy, and the correlated interests which their history and neighborhood have created and encouraged. In all your intercourse with the Mexican government and people it must be your chiefest endeavor correctly to reflect this firm conviction of your government." Mr. Blaine, Sec. of State, to Mr. Morgan, min. to Mexico, June 1, 1881, "It is a source of profound gratification to the government of the United that with a full comprehension of the great political and social As to commercial relations with Mexico, see message of July 19, 1876, As to reciprocity, see S. Mis. Doc. 45, 47 Cong. 1 sess.; S. Ex. Doc. 75, 47 As to railroads, see S. Ex. Doc. 73, 45 Cong. 3 sess.; S. Ex. Doc. 38, 46 "It is with sincere satisfaction that I am enabled to advert to the spirit of good neighborhood and friendly cooperation and conciliation that has marked the correspondence and action of the Mexican authorities in their share of the task of maintaining law and order about the line of our common boundary." President Cleveland, annual message, Dec. 3, 1888, For. Rel. 1888, I. xv. "The recent disturbances of the public peace by lawless foreign marauders on the Mexican frontier have afforded this government an opportunity to testify its good will for Mexico and its earnest purpose to fulfill the obligations of international friendship by pursuing and dispersing the evil-doers. The work of relocating the boundary of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, westward from El Paso, is progressing favorably." President Harrison, annual message, Dec. 6, 1892, For. Rel. 1892, xv. "Good will fostered by many interests in common has marked our relations with our nearest southern neighbor. Peace being restored along her northern frontier, Mexico has asked the punishment of the late disturbers of her tranquillity. There ought to be a new treaty of commerce and navigation with that country to take the place of the one which terminated thirteen years ago. The friendliness of the intercourse between the two countries is attested by the fact that during this long period the commerce of each has steadily increased under the rule of mutual consideration, being neither stimulated by conventional arrangements nor retarded by jealous rivalries or selfish distrust." President Cleveland, annual message, Dec. 3, 1894, For. Rel. 1894, xi. In August, 1899, a committee representing the people of Chicago presented to President Diaz an invitation inviting him, his cabinet. and his friends to attend, as the guests of the citizens of Chicago, the ceremonies at the laying of the corner stone of the United States building in that city, October 9, 1899, at which the President of the United States was also to be present. The reception of the committee by President Diaz was arranged for through the regular diplomatic channel, and the American ambassador was directed to say that, in the event of President Diaz accepting the invitation, a representative of the United States would meet him at the frontier and escort him to Chicago. President Diaz informed the committee that his acceptance of the invitation would require the consent of the Mexican Congress. It appears that on September 20, 1899, the two houses in joint session granted him a leave of absence of twenty days with permission to visit Chicago, and appropriated $100,000 for his expenses, should he accept the invitation. In consequence, however, of the pressure of public business and illness of his wife President Diaz was unable to make the journey, but he sent as his personal representative Mr. Mariscal, minister for foreign affairs. For. Rel. 1899, 504-510. For an account of the honors paid by the Mexican government to Mr. Gray, minister of the United States, who died at the City of Mexico. February 14, 1895, see For. Rel. 1895, II. 994–996. A concurrent res: olution expressing appreciation of the action of the Mexican government was adopted by the Senate of the United States, February 21, 1895, and by the House of Representatives the next day. By the terms of the resolution the Secretary of State was requested to transmit an engrossed copy of it to the Mexican government, which was done. (For. Rel. 1895, II. 996.) The Mexican Congress appropriated $30,000 for the relief of the sufferers by the Galveston disaster. (For. Rel. 1900, 784.) For many years a dispute existed between Mexico and Guatemala as to their common boundary. The United States used its good offices on various occasions. A convention for the settlement of the dispute was concluded in 1895. Message of Feb. 17, 1882, S. Ex. Doc. 156, 47 Cong. 1 sess.; message of May See Mr. Lazo Arriaga, Guatemalan min., to Mr. Gresham, Sec. of State. |