The seizure of the conducta by Degollado's order was disapproved of by the government at Vera Cruz, which well knew what complications and embarrassments it would entail on Mexico; for a convention had been already signed by Spain, France, and England, in which Prussia was also to have a share, for interfering in the affairs of Mexico, even without the consent of the United States.[1] It was stipulated that the mediators should propose a general armistice for a year's time, during which the Mexican people should be called upon to fix the principles, or basis, for their government, the mediating powers sanctioning what the congress should determine. Those governments represented to that of the United States the motives prompting their course, which they based on the weak-
- ↑ A letter dated July 31, 1860, from No. 9 Rue Roqueplan, Paris, and attributed to Juan N. Almonte, was published by the newspaper La Revolucion on the 7th of October; it says: This point [that of mediation] being arranged in Madrid, I forthwith returned to this city, where I prevailed on the French government to invite Prussia, so that France, Spain, England, and Prussia are agreed to offer the mediation. Mons. de Saligny has been already despatched, and in the early days of the coming month he will leave here for Mexico, via the United States, to arrive in Vera Cruz early in Sept. On his arrival in Mexico he will find there Señor Pacheco, Herr Wagner, and perhaps Sir Charles Wyke. . .Saligny has orders to act without waiting for Sir Charles Wyke; so that the representations of Spain, France, and Prussia being in accord, . . . the mediation may be officially tendered. The mediation being accepted, a general armistice will be agreed upon, and then will be determined the mode of assembling an extraordinary congress to reconstruct the nation. . .In the event of Juarez and company refusing to accept the mediation, which I do not think they would refuse now, it seems to me that the powers aforesaid, specially Spain and France, will adopt other more efficacious means to force the red party to listen to reason. The U. S. have been invited to cooperate on behalf of the mediation; but they have refused to lend their support, though opposing no obstacle, which is quite an advantage, 'pues asi va la Europa amansándolos, y mas tarde vendrá la intervencion.'
enemies of them, the most excited being the Spaniards, French, and Germans, who did not get back their money. Arrangoiz, Méj., ii. 370; Payno, Мех. у Сuest. Financ., 103-16; Мéх., Мmm. Насіenda, 1870, 530-1; Rivera, Gob. de Méx., ii. 582-3. The money was distributed at Lagos, notwithstanding the protests of the foreign consuls. However, Degollado returned them $100,000, promising that the balance would be paid after the triumph of the liberal cause. Juarez on the 24th of October decreed the repayment of that sum out of the proceeds of convents, for the sale of which his decree afforded greater facilities than the original law of July 13, 1859. That decree was also published in Mexico by his order, Jan. 10, 1861. Another decree of Dec. 17, 1860, applied to the payment of claims for damages caused by the existing war not only the sums provided for on the 24th of Oct., but also further amounts out of the funds proceeding from sales of national property, and out of the proceeds from customs at Tampico. Méx., Cód. Reforma, 202-3, 211-13.
