Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/156

peditionary corps had been sent to Mexico this year, excepting the number of soldiers that were necessary to replace those that were missing, but in no case would there be any augmentation of the effective force. The embarkation of troops mentioned in the newspapers, and in your despatch, is very probably that which took place on board the transport ship 'Le Rhône,' in the beginning of the year. This vessel touched at Martinique, and not at St. Thomas, as was stated. It had on board 916 soldiers, and not 1,200; and they belonged to the foreign legion, and not to the expeditionary corps.

These soldiers had been waiting for some time in France and in Algeria for means of transport to rejoin their regiments. No enlistments have taken place for the foreign legion since the emperor announced his intention of withdrawing his flag from Mexico, and there is no idea, as far as he knows, of making fresh enlistments.

Regarding the embarkation of troops recruited in Austria, his excellency told me that this is a matter entirely between the Austrian government and the Mexicans, and that France had nothing to do with it. Since I pointed out the fact to him, he has confirmed his own convictions on the subject, by a correspondence with the ministers of war and marine, and he has satisfied himself that there has been no kind of engagement entered into, either for the enlistment or for the transport of Austrian troops into Mexico.

He then stated that the intention of his government is to withdraw the whole of their army from Mexico at latest within the time specified in the despatch which he sent you, and even sooner, if the climate and other considerations permit it; also, that it is not their intention to replace this army by other troops from any source whatsoever.

In concluding this long conversation, with the important result of which I have acquainted you, I expressed to the minister the satisfaction which his explanations gave me, and the pleasure I should have in communicating them to my government.

This despatch has been submitted to M. Drouyn de Lhuys, who has approved the summary of our conversation contained in it.John Bigelow.

After reading this despatch, could any hopes be