Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/138

 permit us to place our legion under the orders of Austrians who were themselves bound to obey the Mexican officers.

To this double proposition, so favourable to the interests of the crown, Maximilian replied to the commander-in-chief as follows:—

Mexico, April 3, 1866 My dear Marshal,—I reply as under to your kind letter of the 30th ultimo. It is very pleasing to me to know that, during the temporary duration of the present financial state of the country, the French treasury undertakes to supply the wants of my Austro-Belgian legion. I see in this a fresh proof of the sympathy of the government for the Mexican cause.

As regards the union of the French foreign legion and the Austro-Belgian brigade in one division, under the orders of a French general, I consent to the measure so far as the legal grounds and the special national circumstances of these two corps will permit, and provided that their total effective force is not less than 15,000 men. I am anxious therefore to see negotiations opened on the subject.

My intention is that this matter should be discussed by a commission, and I beg that you will acquaint me with the names of the members whom you point out for it.—Your very affectionate

This reply of the emperor, who thus again allowed another element of power for his throne to escape him, was nothing but a disguised refusal of the military combination submitted to his consideration. The premeditated expressions, 'as far as the legal grounds and special national circumstances of these two corps'  opened a wide field for interpretations and ambiguities. Nevertheless, a general of our army, distinguished by his energetic qualities, was placed at the disposal of the court of Mexico. The commission often met, but its deliberations soon manifested those influences which had already hampered the imperial resolutions. The