Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/269

 Circular . . . In the midst of this lamentable crisis, advantage is taken of the attitude of the United States, who have been always hostile to a monarchical form of government and to an European intervention. His majesty has been informed that the French government and that of the United States have entered into negotiations to insure a Franco-American intervention by means of which it is promised that an end shall be put to the civil war which is desolating this country. To carry out this intention it is considered indispensable that the government to be established under this mediation should assume a republican form, and should be suggested by the Liberal party. The hopes of our government for the consolidation of order, which were partly based on a loyal and firm alliance, are thus deceived.

The French government had not, however, yet reached the limit of its disloyalty. The American frigate, after several days of useless waiting in the gulf, had put to sea to proceed to the United States, carrying back on board the two plenipotentiaries, who had not even landed. The news from Mexico and Orizaba had ruined the hopes of the ministers at the Tuileries, who now had no fear of unmasking before Maximilian's eyes the whole of their hostile policy, by again violating their promise given and recorded by treaty.

The Emperor to Castelnau. Compiègne, December 13, 1866. Send home the Foreign Legion and all the French, soldiers or any one else who wish to return, as well as the Austrian and Belgian Legions if they demand it.

This despatch had the effect of depriving Maximilian of his last support, in defiance of Article 3 in the treaty of Miramar, which had been expressly reserved in the convention of July 30, and, as will be recollected, was to the following effect;—'The Foreign Legion in the