Mr. Plumb to Mr.
Seward.
No. 186]
Legation of the United States,
City of Mexico,
September 12, 1868.
Sir: A renewed application having been made by
President Juarez to the supreme court for leave for Mr. Lerdo de
Tejada—since the 31st
[Page 581]
of May
last the chief justice and Vice-President of the republic—to continue in
the cabinet as minister of foreign relations, such permission, in
reverse of the action of the court on the 5th of June last, which caused
the retirement of Mr. Lerdo from the cabinet, has now been granted, and
yesterday that gentleman again assumed the charge of the department
which for so long a period previously had been under his control.
The usual official notice was addressed to me by Mr. Lerdo yesterday, and
I have to-day replied in such terms as I have thought proper to the
occasion.
A copy and translation of Mr. Lerdo’s note is transmitted herewith, as
also copy of my reply.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Señor Lerdo de Tejada to
Mr. Plumb.
Mexico,
September 11, 1868.
Sir: have the honor to inform you that the
President of the republic having been pleased to appoint me minister
of foreign relations, I have taken charge to-day of that
department.
It is very satisfactory to me to assure you that I will always have
the greatest desire to cultivate the most friendly and cordial
relations with the legation of the United States of America, of
which you are very worthily in charge. I am, sir, with the greatest
consideration, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Mr. Edward Lee Plumb, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States of America, in
Mexico.
Mr. Plumb to Señor Lerdo de Tejada.
Legation of the United
States, Mexico,
September 12, 1868.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your excellency’s note of yesterday, informing me that
the President of the republic having been pleased to appoint your
excellency minister of foreign relations, you had that day taken
charge of that department.
Your excellency has also been pleased to assure me of the great
desire you will always have to cultivate the most cordial and
friendly relations with the legation of the United States.
It is with very great satisfaction that I have learned that your
excellency has resumed the direction of the department which, for so
extended a period previously, had been under your excellency’s able
and worthy charge, and I am assured I shall correctly represent the
sentiments of the government of the United States in expressing the
conviction that in the future, as in the years that have passed, the
relations between our two republics cannot but be drawn more and
more closely together in the ties of peace, friendship, and mutual
commerce, under the enlightened efforts that your excellency will
make, and toward which common and desired end, I am confident you
feel certain, no effort on my own part will ever be wanting.
Availing myself of this occasion, with great pleasure, to renew to
your excellency the assurances of my most distinguished
consideration and particular esteem. I have the honor to be your
most obedient servant,
His Excellency Señor D. Sebastian Lerdo de
Tejada.
Minister of Foreign Relations of the Republic
of Mexico.
