negotiated in France, and for the heavy war expenses. The Vera Cruz and Tampico custom-houses were surrendered to the French agents as guarantees. A great part of these receipts being already hypothecated, and the advance of the republicans cutting off one resource after another, so small a revenue remained with which to conduct the government that bankruptcy was inevitable.[1] Both sovereigns must have recognized the uselessness of the convention; yet they signed it, one because he was obliged to, and the other to save appearances.[2]
Notwithstanding the effort to seek better terms from Napoleon, Maximilian had taken several steps to secure his position in case of need, and among them ranked foremost the reorganization of the army. Napoleon had promised his aid for the formation of a European army, to embrace the Austro-Belgian volunteers of some 7,500 men, and the foreign legion of the French expedition, placed in the Miramare treaty at 8,000 men, and Bazaine was occupied in organizing a Franco-Mexican body, under the term of cazadores, or chasseurs, which should become fully as strong. Add to this the 25,000 or more of rural guards and auxiliaries in different parts, one third mounted, and 600 pieces of artillery, together with the means for manufacturing arms at more than one of the fortified points in the empire, and the strength of Maximilian appeared by no means insignificant.
- ↑ The net receipts of the empire in 1865 amounted to 19 millions, of which nearly 5 millions came from Vera Cruz, 212, millions from other gulf ports, and 3 millions from the Pacific, the remainder being obtained from excise, direct contributions, and other sources. Of the Pacific receipts, 75 per cent had already been assigned, and a large proportion of the gulf duties; further claims were impending, a convention having been signed June 26th whereby English claims should be decided upon by a body of four commissioners. 'Nada se estipuló... respecto de las reclamaciones de ciudadanos Mexicanos contra el gobierno británico,' observes Romero caustically. Méx., Mem. Hac., 1870, 683. The continual reverses of 1866 cut off resources in every direction.
- ↑ And to secure by manipulations at Vera Cruz all the money possible. 'En prévision d'une chute prochaine.' Niox, Expéd. du Mex., 603. The Juarist minister at Washington protested against the arrangement as intended to prolong the stay of French troops. Legac. Mex., Circulares, ii. 244-9. The relations with France becoming more strained, the convention was soon ignored by Maximilian, as will be seen.
