Louis Napoleon’s Attitude
When Maximilian ascended the throne of Mexico, the Civil War was still
raging in the United States, and the White House had no time to care for
the affairs of its southern neighbor. Although from the first the United
States had refused to recognize the Empire, its attitude had been
neutral rather than actually hostile, and Napoleon was counting on an
indefinite continuation of the war for the furtherance of his plans. The
end came sooner than was expected, however. After a bitter struggle the
Southern States yielded to the North, and this materially changed the
situation in Mexico. Juarez was now not only regarded as President, but
furnished with active support, without which he would doubtless have
been forced to give up the struggle. He hovered on the border, now on
one side of the line, now on the other, escaping into Texas when the
enemy was close at his heels, and remaining there in safety until the
danger was passed, then crossing back into Mexico again, where,
reinforced by volunteers from the north, he won frequent victories over
the imperial troops and constantly gained ground.
Napoleon’s position was likewise changed. In a speech delivered from the
throne on the twenty-second of January, 1866, he declared:
“In Mexico the government founded by the people continues to thrive. The
rebels, overpowered and dispersed, have no longer any leaders. The
national troops have proved their valor and the country has furnished
security for order and safety in the development of resources which have
made its commerce worth millions with France alone. Our enterprise
therefore is progressing most successfully, as I last year expressed the
hope that it would. As to the recall of our troops I have come to an
understanding with Emperor Maximilian, whereby their withdrawal may be
accomplished without danger to the interests of France, for the
protection of which in that distant country we have pledged ourselves.
Any objections raised by the United States to the continued presence of
our troops in Mexico will be removed, I feel sure, by the justice of our
explanations. The American people will perceive that an enterprise in
which we sought their aid cannot be contrary to their interests. Two
nations, equally jealous of their rights, must naturally resent any step
that might jeopardize their honor or their dignity.”
Plausible and reassuring as this sounds, it nevertheless betrays two
facts: France’s fear of being drawn into war with the United States if
she continued to maintain an army on American soil, and Napoleon’s
desire to conciliate that country even at the cost of violating the
Treaty of Miramar. True, there may have been something in the secret
articles added to this document which justified Napoleon’s methods,
while on the other hand it is evident that Maximilian was far from
opposing the recall of Bazaine, nor did he object to the gradual
withdrawal of the French troops, as may be seen from the following
announcement that appeared in the _Monitor_:
“In pursuance to an agreement between M. Dano, the French ambassador,
His Excellency Marshal Bazaine, and the Mexican government, the Emperor
has ordered that the French troops shall leave Mexico in three
detachments: the first to go in November, 1866, the second in March,
1867, the third in the following November. Negotiations between the two
governments have also begun to substitute those articles of the Treaty
of Miramar relating to finance, new stipulations whereby France’s
indebtedness and the interest of the loan guaranteed by her to Mexico
shall be assured.”
The United States declared itself satisfied with these assurances and
continued to assist Juarez in his attempts to undermine the government.
The year 1866, which thus began so peacefully on paper at a time when
there was little peace in the air, either in Europe or America, was to
prove an eventful one for Maximilian, and hastened with giant strides
the downfall of the Mexican Empire.