CHAPTER I.
Alleged Cause of the French Intervention—The Convention of La Soledad—Real Position of Juarez—Commencement of Hostilities—Previous Negotiations with Maximilian—Secret Aim of the French Intervention—Cause of England's Withdrawal—Disappointment and Opposition of General Prim—Napoleon's first 'Idea'—He throws off the Mask—Feeble Character of the French Policy.
WHAT was the idea which was dominant at first when the French flag was sent under the walls of Vera Cruz? And, later, what was the real cause of the declaration of war hurled against the President Juarez?
If we are to depend upon the official declarations, we see that the government of the emperor, in virtue of a convention signed November 20, 1861, in conjunction with England and Spain, had determined, by a joint intervention, 'to compel Mexico to fulfil the obligations already solemnly contracted and to give us a guarantee of a more efficient protection for the persons and property of our respective countrymen.' These are the instructions which were intrusted to Rear-Admiral Jurien de la Gravière, who was invested with the chief command of our military forces sent to Mexico, together with a naval squadron. M. Thouvenel, the minister of foreign affairs, made the following addition to the admiral's instructions:—
'The allied powers decline any intervention in the domestic affairs of the country, and especially any exercise of pressure on the will of the population with regard to their choice of a government.'
