Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/42

22 Mexico, was to be invited to join them; but no delay was to be allowed in carrying out the objects of the convention. This did not meet the views of the French and Spanish cabinets. They had ulterior projects, and the clauses favoring Mexican independence of action as to the form of government had been placed there merely to calm the scruples of the British minister of foreign affairs. They finally, by assuring him that they had good reasons to believe the Mexicans themselves would ask as a special favor a moral support that could not be denied them, obtained from the minister the suppression of the troublesome clauses, in order not to discourage the national movement, which as Billault, the French minister, said, the French and Spanish governments were awaiting to attempt the organization of a government in Mexico suited to monarchical ideas.

The clause to invite the United States to act jointly with the other powers was insisted on by the British foreign office, and acceded to by France and Spain, though the last named would not renounce her full freedom of action to deal with Mexico on the questions at issue between them; for she claimed that her grievances were of a more serious nature than those of the others, which were merely pecuniary, and involved redress for the murder of her subjects and the dismissal of her ambassador. The United States, supposing at first that only England and France had intended a hostile demonstration against Mexico to recover moneys due, offered to pay them the interest accrued for a certain time, and on being apprised