Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/75

Rh He approved Lorencez' conduct, though misunderstood by some. Nevertheless, on deciding to despatch more forces, General Forey was appointed commander-in-chief, with powers as plenipotentiary; and the emperor wrote him, on the 3d of July, giving his views as to the policy he was to pursue in Mexico. First, on arrival, issue a proclamation, the chief points of which would be suggested to him; 2d, to receive with the utmost kindness all Mexicans joining him; 3d, not to support the quarrels of any party — to declare that all is provisional till the Mexican people have spoken for themselves-to show a great deference for religion, but at the same time quieting the mind of the possessors of national property; 4th, to feed, pay, and arm, according to his means, the Mexican auxiliary troops, allowing them the most prominent places in battles; 5th, to maintain the strictest discipline in both the French and auxiliary forces, repressing vigorously any word or deed that might wound the Mexicans, it being necessary not to forget the fierceness of their character. On arriving in Mexico he was to summon the prominent men of all political shades who had joined him to form a provisional government, which would submit to the Mexican people the question of the political system that was to be definitively established; after which an assembly should be convoked according to Mexican laws. He was to aid the new government to secure regularity in the administration, specially of the treasury, for which competent men would be placed with them; not to force upon the Mexicans any form of government not to their liking, but to aid them to establish one offering stability, and which might secure to France the satisfaction of past grievances. Of course, if they preferred a monarchy, the interests of France demanded that they should be helped in that direction. The motives of France are then explained. Prosperity of America is necessary to Europe. France has an interest in the U. S. being powerful and prosperous, but cannot permit them to hold the whole gulf of Mexico, and control from there the Antilles and South America, and be the only dispensers of the products of the New World. He refers to the scarcity of cotton for the European factories. ''Niox, Expéd. du Mex., 212-16; Arrangoiz, Méj''., iii. 87-9; Hidalgo, Apuntes, 151-4; Zamacois, Hist. lé., xvi. 278-81; ''North Am. Rer''., ciii. 121-2; ''Flint's Mex. under Max., 37-40; Chynoweth's Fall of Max''., 39-41.

Henry M. Flint, Mexico under Maximilian. The object of the author was to remove the prejudice existing in the United States against the government of Maximilian. He wrote the book before the emperor's downfall, his preface being dated Feb. 22, 1857. Flint maintains that Maximilian's government had done more for the prosperity of Mexico, more for the enlightenment of the Mexican people, during the three years of its existence, than any republican government in Mexico ever did in thirty, forty, or fifty years.' The author describes the deplorable condition of the country and people at the time of the intervention, and then narrates and discusses the political change which followed, showing himself so strong a champion of the anti-republican party as to classify the Monroe doctrine as absurd, and argue that it ought to be repudiated. A number of official letters and documents are supplied in this volume. The expeditionary corps placed under Forey's command was to consist of about 30,000 men.