CHAPTER X
IMPERIAL HOME LIFE AND VICISSITUDES
1866.
Money Matters — New Treaty — Army Reorganization — Austrians Discontented — Domestic Affairs — Character of Charlotte — Maximilian's Habits — Hours of Labor, Food, and Exercise — Dress — Amusements — Religious Shows — Washing Feet — The Emperor's Cold Wit — Conservatist Plot — Santa Anna — New Policy of Maximilian — Bazaine's Quarrel and Recall — Castelnau — Abdication Urged — Ortega and the United States — Maximilian at Orizaba
The departure of the empress only served to precipitate negotiations at Mexico, and on the 30th of July, 1866, Maximilian was obliged to sign a new convention regulating the financial question, whereby the French government should receive one half of all maritime custom-house receipts,[1] after November 1st, in payment of interest and capital due for the loans
- ↑ Including export and import duties, 'internacion' and 'contraregistro,' 'mejores materiales' fund, now liberated from payments to the Vera Cruz railroad, but less three fourths of the Pacific custom house receipts, which were already hypothecated. The sums so granted were to be applied to the payment of interest and capital of the loans of 1864-5; to the payment of three per cent interest on the 216 million francs recognized by the treaty of Miramare, and on all subsequent advances by the French treasury, amounting to about 250 million francs. Any surplus left after making these payments should serve to reduce the capital due the French government. No change of tariff must be made tending to lower the sum now granted. Special agents under the French flag should direct the collection of duties at Vera Cruz and Tampico, all of which were to be assigned for the above payments, less the part already set aside for acknowledged claims, and for salaries of officials at these custom-houses, the latter not to exceed five per cent of the receipts. Any surplus or deficiency remaining after applying these receipts to the total one half were to be adjusted in the accounts rendered from other custom houses every three months, with assistance of French consular agents. This document was signed by Dano and Luis de Arroyo, the latter assistant secretary of state, in charge of the foreign portfolio. It had to take effect on a date to be determined by Napolecn, which was Nov. 1lst. See Derecho Intern. Mex., pt ii. 386-90.
