that Spain would also take part in the demonstration, extended the same offer to her. But Calderon Collantes, on the 16th of November, said to the Spanish minister at Washington that Spain, together with England and France, wanted the coöperation of the United States, in order that their collective action might have the desired effect of securing future safety to the subjects and interests of the three powers. Secretary Seward said on the 14th of October to Schurz, United States minister at Madrid, that the president had understood that neither of the three powers alleging grievances would, in their hostile action against Mexico, go beyond obtaining satisfaction for those grievances, as they had no intent to acquire territory, or of affecting the political status of Mexico, to which the United States could oppose no objection. Still, whether Spain acted alone or jointly with the others, the president expected that the utmost care should be had not to molest United States citizens in Mexico or their interests, nor affect the interests of the United States government in territories contiguous to the seat of war. With such an object the United States would keep a naval force wheresoever a conflict might occur.
The convention of October 31st did not stipulate the land and naval force each nation was to employ; it left to the United States the option to act jointly with the other powers if that government felt inclined, and limited their action, neither of them being allowed to appropriate any portion of Mexican territory, or obtain any special advantage, or to influence the people of Mexico to choose any particular form of government. Nothing was therein contained as to which of the powers should have the lead of affairs on the operating ground.[1]
- ↑ The convention consists of a preamble and five articles, the former set-
Sec. Seward had verbally communicated to Lord Lyons, British minister at Washington, to bind the U. S. to pay two years' interest on all Mexico's foreign indebtedness, which amounts were to be secured by mortgage on certain Mexican territory. But as an hypothecation of territory would have been practically equivalent to a cession of it, Juarez declined.
