Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton
Sir: Your despatch of the 8th of July; No. 507, which is accompanied by a memorandum from M. Drouyn de l’Huys, concerning the case of James H. Mansfield, United States consul at Tabasco, has been received.
The spirit of that paper is highly honorable to the Emperor’s government. I suspend a consideration of the explanations until the further examination which the minister for foreign affairs has promised shall result in some certainty, as to the question whether the wrongs committed against Mr. Mansfield were exclusively the acts of Mexicans, or were directed or participated in by the French military authorities intervening in Mexico. If the former supposition shall prove correct, it will be a plain duty to desist from further representation in the matter to the French government, and to acknowledge the frankness with which M. Drouyn de l’Huys has conducted his inquiries in the case.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
William L. Dayton Esq., &c., &c., &c.