Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/39

Rh In adopting the suspension plan, the cabinet acted on the idea that it would lead to the establishment of order, morality, and economy. Still the act of including in the suspension the obligations toward foreign nations could but excite further ill feeling on their part, and consequent troubles, particularly as no friendly explanations with the creditors had preceded it. Had Zamacona's advice been followed, harsh protests and overt acts from the French might have been averted, for the amount of their claims was insignificant. A casual event came at this time to further embroil the foreign relations. During the popular celebration of the victory of Jalatlaco, a pistol-bullet struck near Dubois de Saligny at the French legation, which he tried to make out an attempt to assassinate him. The diplomatic corps took the matter in hand, the United States minister being chosen to bring it to the attention of the government. A thorough judicial inquiry was ordered and made, and the result was that no attempt had been made against Saligny's life. Be it as it may, he used the incident to bring about a suspension of diplomatic relations.

The disposition of French diplomates to pick quarrels with Mexico on merely personal grounds was not new with Saligny. In May 1845 Baron Alleye de Cyprey, French minister, made a diplomatic affair out of an insignificant occurrence, in which he and his secretary of legation were mixed up, at the bathing-place for horses called Las Delicias. Both he