Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/267

Rh Emperor of Mexico excited deep dissatisfaction in the French camp. The scheme of the Tuileries was utterly destroyed. Nevertheless, the illusion of its success had strongly prevailed in Paris, to judge only from the despatches of our government, dated October 31, which had just arrived from Europe. 'The minister Larès,' they wrote, 'has no chance of a continuance of power; the mission of General Castelnau could not be more opportune; and the emperor's desire is to see Maximilian quit Mexico.' Two of the representatives of France thought that an energetic note, telling the undisguised truth as to the impossibility of the enterprise which he was undertaking, might perhaps open Maximilian's eyes, and cause him to relinquish his design.

The marshal, in his feeling as a soldier, persisted in believing that, with the sure help of the foreign legion and the Austrians, and with the numerous well-fortified places to constitute his base of operations, Maximilian still retained those elements of a continuance of power which would permit him to retire at some future day with more honour and in full security. He was, however, compelled to embrace the opinion of General Castelnau and M. Dano.

General Castelnau had already informed the Emperor Napoleon of Maximilian's irresolution; and, on December 7, he acquainted him of this new coup d'état, in which the monarchy, unfurling the banner of the clerical party, destroyed all hope of an amicable solution. It was, however, necessary to meet promptly a state of things so compromising to French interests. The same day a joint note was drawn up by the three French representatives, and the day after the reception of M. Larès' communication it was sent to the president of the council. It was intended to make a last effort against the reactionary party.