instructions to those given to Jurien de la Gravière. He was to present his reclamations, according to the ultimatum sent on the 11th of September to the captain-general of Cuba, and to begin active hostilities if Mexico did not fully accept the conditions demanded. He was well informed that Spain intended the war should be carried into the interior.[1] Prim arrived at Habana on the 23d of December,[2] and was visited by Francisco Javier Miranda, known as Pađre Miranda, and who might be called the chief of the monarchial party in Mexico, and General Miramon. The result of the interview was a loss of faith in the Spanish general.[3]
The French and English troops landed immediately after their arrival at Vera Cruz; and it became quite A evident that their commanders were displeased with the premature coming of the Spanish force, and with General Gasset's proclamation in his queen's name.[4]
- ↑ Prim was confidentially advised of the plan to establish a monarchy in Mexico, which was attributed to the French government. He made the fact known in a speech before the Spanish córtes in 1863. But he was not instructed to lend his coöperation, because the candidature of an Austrian prince was distasteful to Spain. Niox, Expéd. du Mex., 46. There was some discrepancy between the Spanish foreign secretary and the ambassador at Madrid, on the monarchial plan. The former said: 'Al irse el general Prim le dí las instrucciones oportunas por escrito y verbalmente,' and yet he pretended to be ignorant of the project. Arrangoiz, Méj., iii. 14-16.
- ↑ He was enthusiastically greeted by the Spaniards: 'Viva el vicerey de México, viva el nuevo Hernan Cortez (sic).' Rapport du commandant du Milan, in Niox, Expéd. du Mex., 53-4.
- ↑ Miranda wrote to Paris and Madrid that Prim was going to treat with Juarez' government. His letters were read by Gen. O'Donnell, prime min- ister, and Calderon Collantes, minister of foreign affairs, of Spain. Arrangoiz, Méj., iii. 13; Zamacois, Hist. Méj., xv. 839-40.
- ↑ The understanding had been that the forces of the three powers were to rendezvous at Habana. Spanish precipitancy, according to José Manuel Hidalgo, Apuntes para escribir la historia de los proyectos de monarquía en México, Mex., 1868, 102, enabled Juarez to make the Mexican people believe that the Spaniards were bent on reconquest. His policy then was to abuse Spain, representing her as an usurper, and to summon 'á la defensa de la independencia nacional' all the army officers, many of whom obeyed the summons only because of their belief that Spain's purpose was to reduce Mexico to a Spanish colony. Zamacois denies it, alleging that as early as Nov. 1st the government wrote Gov. Arteaga of Querétaro, taking for granted that the differences with England and France would be arranged, and adding that Spain's reclamations would remain unheeded, for the struggle with her would benefit both the country and the liberal party; 'serviria para unir estrechamente al partido liberal, y para estirpar una vez por todas, los abusos del sis-
