were certainly without color of reason, as can be seen by the simple perusal of the correspondence between the two governments. In the interview with Mr. Romero, in which Mr. Seward announced that the emperors of Austria and France and the queen of England had severally appealed to the United States to endeavor to avert the execution of Maximilian, he concluded in these words:
"The United States have already expressed themselves on that subject with frankness and profound respect to the government of President Juarez. To reiterate its opinions and wishes in a formal manner in compliance with the wishes expressed by the sovereigns of France and Great Britain, would perhaps embarrass the government of President Juarez, and might tend to defeat the humane purposes entertained. At the same time Mr. Seward, assuming that the question may still remain an open one, is desirous that President Juarez should be informed of the interest in the person of Prince Maximilian thus expressed by the last named European powers.
"Mr. Seward also thinks it proper to say that he apprehends no possible contingency in which any European power will attempt either invasion or intervention hereafter in Mexico, or in any other republican nation on the American continent. For this reason he does not think that Mexico has to apprehend any attempt at retaliation by European
