A CHANGE OF PLAN.
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to do, swayed now by reported disasters to his arms, and again by mirages conjured up by interested advisers.
The best evidence of his varying mood, as influenced by men and happenings, is furnished in the correspondence with Bazaine and his colleagues, entered upon partly with a view to learn the plans of the French for evacuation and for protecting imperialist interests, and partly to arrange matters connected with the civil list, intimate adherents, and Austro-Belgian troops, which appealed to his personal sympathy. The nature of these arrangements, as well as verbal and written expressions, continued to inspire a confident belief in his withdrawal.[1] Suddenly, however, came a change which overthrew all these expectations.
- ↑ Lares and Arroyo had been permitted to confer with the French representatives, and informed of the project for a new government, they demanded a reply in writing as to the war material to be left to the Mexican minister of war, and the measures for securing protection to towns and the country generally. By letter of Nov. 9th it was answered that Castelnau came to promote the departure of the French troops, during the opening months of 1867, and to ascertain whether Maximilian could sustain the government with the resources left to him. The Mexican troops and the war material were ever at his command. The government would be informed of the evacuation of towns by the French in time to take measures. So long as the French troops remained at a place they would protect the people. As for steps to prevent anarchy in case Maximilian abdicated, they would be dictated by French interests and the need for maintaining order. Meanwhile Castelnau had become alarmed at the resolute declaration of Lares that the government could maintain itself, supported by a note from Maximilian, wherein he alluded to negotiations the failure of which would determine him to abdicate. Arrangoiz interprets the negotiations to be with republican leaders. Mej., iv. 174. An intercepted letter from Eloin confirmed the advice of certain confidants that an abdication before the departure of the French would be an act of weakness and a triumph for Napoleonic intrigues. The French envoy accordingly sent Capt. Pierron to Orizaba to promote the abdication. He returned on the 9th of Nov. with the assurance that Maximilian would depart. Before renouncing the crown, however, he wanted certain assurances. These Castelnau was ready to make; and in a despatch to Paris he gave the impression that his object had been attained in this respect. The request by Maximilian came in a letter dated Nov. 12th, and in a declaration of the 16th, signed by Bazaine, Dano, and Castelnau, he was assured that the French government would send home the Austro-Belgian troops before the last French brigade departed, paying gratuities to crippled and invalid soldiers, and indemnity to all. An effort would be made to secure an advance on their pensions for Princess Josefa and Prince Salvador de Iturbide. The debts of the civil list and the gran chancellería were to be settled, and if necessary the aid of the new government invoked to this effect. Maximilian had requested a promise of fixed sums for these payments, to be made before the French evacuation, and the answer was therefore not wholly satisfactory; but in transmitting his thanks for the efforts, he added that there
