Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I enclosed to you on the 6th of July, in my despatch No. 199, a notice published by General Chapelie, inviting recruits for a Belgian legion to serve in Mexico.
Soon after I called M. Rogier’s attention, incidentally, to this notice, and asked him if the government was a party to this organization of troops. He replied that it was not; that, as a government, they had nothing to do with it; that they had, however, given permission to Belgians in their service who desired to go, for without it they forfeited their nationality as Belgians. There was nothing in their laws, he continued, which prevented recruiting in Belgium for foreign service, provided it was not against a nation with which they were at peace.
This subject, coupled with the appearance in the streets of the recruits in Mexican uniform, has naturally excited public attention, and in the sitting of the 2d, on a motion by M. Coomans, he inquired of the minister of war if it was true that Belgian soldiers had received authorization from the government to take military service in Mexico, and upon what laws it was based. The minister replied that it was in accordance with numerous precedents, and he did not see why exception should be made against those Belgians wishing to serve a daughter of the King, who is a sovereign in another country.
An animated and interesting debate followed, which I enclose from the Moniteur, and which shows considerable embarrassment on the part of the government, and on the part of its friends, to defend its course, such as it is; for its effect would seem to tend to put the representatives of liberalism in Belgium in a false attitude before the liberal sentiment of Europe.
The motion of Mr. Coomans, expressing the regret of the house that the government had authorized the promotion in Belgium of a Belgian military corps for service in a foreign country, failed by a vote of 39 for and 53 against. A substitute, by M. Bara, declaring that “the house, in presence of the formal declaration that the government has remained and will remain completely aloof from the encouragement of a corps destined to serve in Mexico, proceed to the order of the day,” passed by a vote of 50 for and 36 against.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.