Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/149

 for accrediting an ambassador to him, and also of the occasion of putting forward every day new requirements.

It is evident that it is as much to the interest of your glorious sovereign and my august ally, the Emperor Napoleon, as it is to mine that we should put an end to the pretensions of the Washington cabinet by expelling Juarez from the above capital. It is a matter, indeed, on which our honour depends.

I repeat that the foreign news which I have just received strongly shows the urgency of this measure, and, as chief of my army, you will have the goodness to immediately see to its execution.

I again urge the prompt formation of Franco-Mexican battalions, and the necessity of instantly appointing their French cadres, for time presses.

I am writing on all these points to the Emperor Napoleon, whom I shall apprise of my resolutions.—Your very affectionate

Thus the Mexican court ignored the whole conduct of the French cabinet, and still clung to the hope of putting an end to the claims of the Washington cabinet, nattering itself that it would be able to allure its ally into the same course. Two powerful reasons forbade our return to Chihuahua. First, the expenses which this long journey must involve would press heavily on the Mexican treasury, which was already sadly exhausted; and, besides, our head-quarters had orders from their government to avoid at all hazard the chance of an engagement on the northern frontier, especially on those parts where the Americans exercised any direct action. Moreover, an expedition like this was a mistake, for it was easy to foresee that an occupation at such a distance could not be a permanent one. It would uselessly fatigue our operating columns, which could be better employed elsewhere.

The imperial order was, however, carried out. Commandant Billot marched rapidly on Chihuahua, whence