Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part II

[Extracts.]

Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward

No. 321.]

Paris, June 26, 1863.

Sir: I herewith enclose you the translation of a communication in La France, and a copy of the paper itself, this journal having, it is supposed by the diplomatic corps, a certain indirect connexion with the government. As the substance of this communication was in conformity with information reported to me from other sources, I felt justified, yesterday, in asking Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys, distinctly, if any change in the policy of this government towards us was contemplated? Whether anything was in agitation? He said, first, that he knew of nothing; but he added, that he had not seen the Emperor for some days, and he could not therefore answer for what he had said or done. He informed me, however, that he was satisfied that the Emperor had seen Mr. Slidell here, and he believed he had seen Messrs. Lindsay and Roebuck at Fontainebleau; but of the latter fact he did not speak with certainty. I have, however, no doubt of it, nor have I any doubt that their mission to Fontainebleau was to get directly from the Emperor the expression of his views, with a view to its influence in the British Parliament. I have heard it said that the conference with Mr. Slidell was mainly in reference to the policy of the confederate government in regard to the French invasion of Mexico and its probable conduct towards them if they should wish to make the south a basis of operations against that country; upon all which Mr. Slidell, of course, gave, it is said, most satisfactory assurances.

This Mexican question has become a most prominent one in the policy of the Emperor, and the more his invasion of that country is complained of, the more anxious does he seem as to its success.

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Please let me hear from you on this subject.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM L. DAYTON.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.

[Translation of extract from the Journal La France.]

We understand that Mr. Slidell, envoy of the Confederate States, was received on Thursday last, by the Emperor, during the short stay that his Majesty made at Paris.

We have reason to believe that the visit of Mr. Slidell was connected with the idea of recognizing the Confederate States of the south, and of thus giving new force to the peace party, which is increasing every day in the States of the north.

The sympathies of the south for France have just been manifested in a striking manner. Richmond has been illuminated upon the occasion of the capture of Puebla, while this great feat of arms was received at the north with an undissembled feeling of regret.

We are informed, also, that Messrs. Roebuck and Lindsay, members of the British Parliament, have had the honor of being received by his Majesty the Emperor.

It is known that these honorable deputies have presented a motion in Parliament, which ought to be discussed next week, and which has for its object the recognition of the southern States.

The cause of the confederates gains new sympathies every day, and their heroic resistance on the one side, on the other the impotence of the armies of the north, prove that there is in them a people strongly organized, worthy, in fine, to be admitted among the independent states.

We are assured that Spain, in particular, will show herself disposed to recognize the south upon the condition, easy to be arranged, that the new confederation would recognize, in its turn, the secular rights of the Spanish government over the island of Cuba, and would interdict itself from all aggression against this island.

A. RENAULD.