Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/273

 treat for the protection of French interests, and to send home the whole of the army in the spring.

I asked the emperor if the president of the United States had been informed of all this; and if anything had been done to prepare his mind for this alteration in his majesty's policy.

He replied that he knew nothing about it; that M. Moustier ought to have done it. . . . There is but one feeling here as to the determination of France to wash its hands of Mexico as soon as possible. I doubt not that the emperor is acting in good faith towards us; but I was not sure that the change in his plans which I have commented upon would receive an equally favourable interpretation in the United States.

In consequence of the late successes of the imperialists in Mexico, and the rather disturbed state of our domestic political affairs, I fear lest the conduct of the emperor should awaken suspicions in the United States which might be seriously prejudicial to the friendly relations of the two countries.

To prevent, if possible, a calamity of this kind, I thought it my duty to take the precautions of which I have just informed you. The emperor having admitted in this conversation that he had advised Maximilian to abdicate, I have been prepared every day to receive the news of this event; for advice to one in the dependent position of Maximilian is almost equivalent to an order.

The emperor said that he hoped to hear the final result of the mission of General Castelnau about the end of this month.

A telegram has appeared in the 'Star' and 'Post' newspapers of London, reproducing the report in circulation in New York on the 6th instant—that Maximilian had abdicated. As we have received despatches of the 7th which made no allusion to this news, I presume that it is at least premature.

General Castelnau, however, was less harsh towards Maximilian than the Court of the Tuileries itself; for the former did no more than notify the recall of the troops at once, but Napoleon III., doubly severe, gave the order to send home the Foreign Legion as well. This attitude on the part of the Tuileries can only be