Mexicans expected that the injury done to neutral commerce by the war would lead foreign nations to help them (13Bankhead, no. 162, 1846). For privateering see vol. 11, pp. 191-3; for the low tariff, see vol. ii, pp. 261-3.
25. Revolutionary movements broke out in Italy (January), France (February), Germany, and Austria (March). Louis Philippe lost his throne.
26. For this paragraph. 108Bancroft to Polk, Jan. 4; May 14, 1847. 108Id. to Buchanan, Nov. 3, 1847. Howe, Bancroft, ii, 5. London Globe, Aug. 25, 1846. 52Bancroft, no. 46, Dec. 4, 1847. National, Nov. 24, 1845.-Correspondant, Feb. 1, 1846. 297McLane to Polk, Aug. 2, 1846. 73Bermúdez de Castro, no. 294, res., July 28, 1846. 13To Bankhead, no. 15, June 1, 1846. 52Martin, no. 13, May 15, 1847. 52Boyd, no. 2, Sept. 3, 1846.
Peña y Peña (Comunicación Circular) said publicly and distinctly in 1848 that foreign powers signified to Mexico that they regarded the annexation of Texas as an accomplished fact; and he added that the one most interested to prevent the aggrandizement of the United States felt that its economic interests required it to digest in silence its own grievances rather than compromise those interests by declaring war.
27. Aberdeen said to Murphy that England did not wish to fight the United States alone, but added that 'if France would join her, the case would be very different"; and he actually requested the French minister at London to sound Guizot on the subject (77Murphy, no. 15, Oct. 1, 1845, muy res.). After another talk Murphy reported to the same effect: "[Aberdeen] would not mind in the least having a war [with the United States] if he could drag France along behind him" [Nada le importaría esa Guerra si pudiese arrastrar tras sí á la Francia] (77no. 17, Nov. 1, 1845, res.). It is of course possible that Murphy attached too much seriousness to Aberdeen's remarks; but the authorities at Mexico had to take his reports as they stood.
28. Murphy, who seems to have been at this time in the most intimate relations with Aberdeen, reported (77no. 15, Oct. 1, 1845, muy res.): France, in accordance with her long-standing disposition and animosities, "would be capable not only of opposing the views of Great Britain, but even of going so far as to make common cause with the United States against her, forcing Louis Philippe to adopt this extreme course however repugnant it might be to him. It is therefore not strange that the British minister views with dread anything that might expose him to war with the United States without securing a perfect understanding in advance with France, not because he needs the aid of her physical strength in a conflict with those States, but to commit her in such a manner that her physical strength would not be added to that of the enemy, causing perhaps a general conflagration of incalculable consequences in the world."
29. For this paragraph. 108Bancroft to Polk, Jan. 19, 1847. Howe, Bancroft, ii, 5-6. 52Boyd, no. 3, Sept. 18, 1846. 77Murphy, nos. 15, Oct. 1, muy res.; 17, Nov. 1, res., 1845. 132Bancroft, Nov. 3, 1846. 52King, no. 29, June 30, 1846. Journal des Débats, July 9, 1845; Oct. 6, 1846. 52Martin, no. 11, Feb. 28, 1847. Dict. Nat. Biog. (article on Peel).
Dec. 28, 1847, Chargé Thornton was instructed (13no. 2) that, should Mexico propose British mediation, he was merely to say that he would transmit the proposal to London.
