Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/27

 a great influence on the disastrous issue of the enterprise. We allude to the rupture of the convention of La Soledad, and to the Emperor Napoleon's letter to General Forey.

Why was the convention of La Soledad torn up by France only?

From the very day that England was indirectly initiated into the projects secretly nourished by the French government, she was eager, by signing the convention, to get clear of the Mexican question. It was not till October 1861, after Maximilian had made his demand for the English guarantee, that M. Thouvenel gave directions that the British cabinet should be sounded on this subject, without anything distinct being implied in the overtures which were made. It turned out that these overtures were badly received on the other side of the Channel. Without delay, our minister of foreign affairs, having been several times questioned by the English ambassador, and fearing that he had gone on rather too far, replied very categorically that 'no government would be forced on the Mexican people' (despatch of Lord Cowley to Earl Russell, May 2, 1862). On another occasion, M. Thouvenel, being questioned by Lord Cowley on the subject of the candidature of the Archduke Maximilian, and being asked whether negotiations on the point were pending between France and Austria, replied in the negative. Our minister's statement was as follows:—'Negotiations have been entered on by the Mexicans themselves alone, who have proceeded to Vienna for this purpose.'

In spite of these denials, England thought it prudent to assert the authority of Juarez, and to retire from the business. She cared but little to compromise her responsibility by giving the future emperor a