ment by April 15th of $600,000 in settlement of the reduced claims without interest, the removal of certain offending officials, and the observance of favorable reciprocity toward French residents, with exemption from forced contributions or any peremptory interference with their retail trading. The government replied on the 25th of March that the national honor could not admit a favorable consideration of the document unless the squadron retired. This dignified though somewhat abrupt answer received the approval of the congress, which that very night met in extraordinary public session to listen with tumultuous disapproval to the ultimatum.[1] It was not expected that France would be able to carry out her threats in view of the approaching yellow-fever season along the coast and the subsequent northers, which must play havoc with both ships and crews, as indeed they did.[2]
No satisfaction being tendered, Bazoche on April 16th declared diplomatic relations suspended[3] and the ports under blockade, a measure dictated, he said,
- ↑ After which it was referred to the committee on government. The government had given notice to the chambers already on February 1st of the impending demand. See comments of the press in Diario Ofic., March 27th, etc.
- ↑ Also from scurvy. L'Herminie alone shows the following progress of the fever. On June 15th, 23 on the sick-list, in July 74, in August 93 to 167, on September 11th, 343, and this out of 500 men! After this came a hurricane which assisted to break the pest, but inflicted damage on the shipping. Blanchard, San Juan de Ulúa, 71 et seq.
- ↑ Shortly after Señor Garro, the Mexican minister at Paris, received his passports for England, after being refused an audience by the king. Voto Nac., Sept. 25, 1838. Chargé d'affaires De Lisle left Mexico April 23d.
and subjects, on the basis enjoyed by the most favored nation, exacting no forced contributions and excluding no Frenchmen from retail trading without due indemnity. After the frequent remonstrances made, an immediate answer might be demanded, but Deffaudis would wait till April 15th, and if satisfaction was not given he would leave Bazoche commander of the squadron, to carry out the orders he had received, by making reprisal on the maritime sources of revenue. Blanchard, San Juan de Ulúa, 229-50. Bustamante ridicules some of the claims made as absurd, laughs at the demand for reciprocity, since the French alone were enjoying the trade and other privileges, and stamps the document as a 'verdadero libelo.' Gabinete, Mex., i. 112. Rivera joins somewhat in this sentiment, but blames the Mexican government for not consenting to a joint commission for arriving at a settlement. Hist. Jalapa, iii. 350-1. This view has been accepted by many later Mexican writers, although, like Zamacois, they still object to certain features of the ultimatum.
