The War with Mexico/Volume 2/Notes On Chapter 35
XXXV. THE FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE WAR
1. It should be remembered that American newspapers and public men were saying unpleasant things about England at this period. The dislike was mutual as well as natural. She still entertained, no doubt, a smouldering resentment against this country for having dared to become independent, and she noted with a jealousy that is quite easily understood the rapid growth of her sometime colony in population, wealth and commercial importance.
2. Polk said: "Even France, the country which had been our ancient ally, the country which has a common interest with us in maintaining the freedom of the seas, the country which, by the cession of Louisiana, first opened to us access to the Gulf of Mexico, the country with which we have been every year drawing more and more closely the bonds of successful commerce, most unexpectedly, and to our unfeigned regret, took part in an effort to prevent annexation and to impose on Texas, as a condition of the recognition of her independence by Mexico, that she would never join herself to the United States" (Richardson, Messages, iv, 387). For further information regarding the interference of England and France see J. H. Smith, The Annexation of Texas. Polk was treated alternately by the Journal des Débats and by most of the English press as a nonentity and as a power for evil.
3. Standing of the United States abroad. 108Sumner to Bancroft. Feb. 1, 1846. (Hate) 297McLane to Polk (received June 21, 1846). Bennett, Mems., 386. 52Bancroft, no. 25, May 3, 1847. 77Mangino, no. 10, Mar. 8, 1837; Jan. 29, 1846, res. Smith, Annex. of Texas, 382. London Morning Post, Apr. 5, 1846. Jameson, Calhoun Corresp., 653, 698. N. Y. Herald, June 8, 1844. 77Murphy, nos. 17, Nov. 1, 1845, res.; 2, Jan. 1, 1846. Nat. Intelligencer, June 22, 1847. 132Donelson to Buchanan, Jan. 8, 1847. 52King, nos. 21, 25, 28, 29, Jan. 1, 30; June 1, 30, 1846. Constitutionnel, Jan. 15, 1846. National, Nov. 28, 1844; Dec. 3, 1845; Jan. 22; May 16, 1846. 52McLane, nos. 18, May 21,1830; 5, Sept. 18, 1845; 54, 55, June 3, 18, 1846. Morning Chronicle, Dec. 25, 1845; Jan. 17; July 27, 1846. Britannia, Jan. 10; Mar. 28; Apr. 18, 1846. Spectator, Feb. 7; Sept. 26, 1846. Examiner, Mar. 29, 1845. Standard, Nov. 25, 1844. Richardson, Messages, iv, 387. Times, Sept. 23; Dec. 27, 1845; Jan. 26, 1846; Mar. 27, 1847. Journal des Débats, Jan. 22; May 15, 1846; Jan. 2-3, 1848.
Martin, our chargé at Paris, wrote (52no. 17, Aug. 15, 1845) that the skill, prudence, firmness and disregard of European interference exhibited by our government in dealing with the annexation of Texas had improved our position in Europe; and McLane expressed the opinion (no. 5, Sept. 18, 1845) that our spirited preparations during the summer of 1845 to fight Mexico had had a good effect; but these were matters to increase respect rather than favor. The London Morning Chronicle of July 27, 1846, after we had shown our prowess, politely explained our occasional coarseness of manners and speech as due to the working out of the principle of political equality, and asserted that the English middle classes viewed the United States with admiration and pride as a "magnificent demonstration of the progressive energy and self-governing power of their own victorious race." Probably a similar feeling lurked in the upper and controlling classes. McLane's report to Polk, cited at the end of the paragraph, was made in June, 1846; but such astate of feeling could not have arisen in a few months.
4. Standing of Mexico abroad. Duflot de Mofras, Exploration, i, 32. (Odium) 13Foreign Office to Bankhead, no. 538, Dec. 31, 1844. 13Bankhead, no. 99, July 30, 1846. 52McLane, nos. 18, May 21, 1830; 69, Aug. 15, 1846. 77Mangino, no. 10, Mar. 8, 1837. 77Relaciones to ministers at London and Paris, July 30, 1845. Memoria de . . . Relaciones, Dec., 1846. 77Murphy, no. 5, Apr. 1, 1845. 77Peña to Garro, no. 24, Oct. 28, 1845. 77Cuevas to Garro, no. 15, July 30, 1845, res. (Told) 73Lozano, no. 3, Aug. 25, 1847, res. V. Cruz Locomotor, July 26, 1846. Amer. Review, Jan., 1846, p. 87. Dwinelle, Address, 11. London Athenæum, Sept. 13, 1845. Journal des Débats, Feb. 18; July 9, 1845; July 8, 1846. National, Nov. 19, 1844; Jan. 18, 1846. London Morning Chronicle, Sept. 15, 1846. Thompson, Recollections, 236. Spectator, Sept. 19, 1846. Examiner, Aug. 2, 1845. Smith, Annexation, 382, etc. London Times, Apr. 11; Aug. 25, 1846.
Even during the war Mexico gave offence to England by her treatment of the offer to mediate (vol. i, p. 368) and by her action regarding her debt. In the latter business Bankhead charged her with a "breach of publick faith" (77to Relaciones, May 18, 1847).
5. Buchanan wished to give a pledge to take no Mexican territory, insisting that unless we should do so, if interrogated, it was 'almost certain that both England and France would join with Mexico." Polk refused, however, to do this, adding that such an inquiry would be "insulting" and would not be answered, and adding also that he would like to obtain a proper territorial indemnity (Polk, Diary, May 13, 1846). Doubtless Buchanan had an eye to his standing with the northern Democrats, who did not wish the area of slavery extended.
6. See vol. i, p. 181 for the Message.
7. For this paragraph. Buchanan, Works, vi, 484-5. 59Confidential circular, May 14, 1846. See also Ho. Rep. 752; 29, 1, pp. 50-2. 8. For commercial reasons Spain was particularly jealous of our blockade, and although treated with special indulgence, she complained more than any other power; but no real friction resulted. See chap. xxx, notes 7, 8.
9. For these two paragraphs. 52Martin, no. 13, May 15, 1847. Gutiérrez de Estrada, México en 1840, p. 32. Gaceta de la Nueva Granada, Aug. 16, 1846, etc. Peruano, passim. Comercio, passim. 72Span. govt. to capt. gen. Cuba, June 18, 1846 (including correspondence with the Spanish minister at Washington). Dix, Speeches, i, 214, note. Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 2)7. Heraldo, Apr. 26, 1847. Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 1009. Buchanan, Works, vii, 290-2; viii, 282-3, 298-9. 52Irving, July 18; Aug. 15; Oct. 8, 1846. 52Saunders, nos. 1, Aug. 6; 6, Nov. 16, 1846; 8, Feb. 13; 24, Nov. 6, 1847.
R. M. Saunders, the American minister, mistakenly invited an offer of mediation from Spain, but she felt very much afraid that we should reject it, and also that it might give offence to England and France. No written communications on the subject passed between him and the Spanish government, however. El Heraldo also remarked that the war would tend to unite the Spaniards of both Americas against the U. S., and that Spain, seizing the opportunity, should offer them her protection and tolerate no other influence. Such a suggestion was not likely to help Mexico.
10. 108Bancroft to Polk, June 3, 1847. 355Wheaton, no. 287, June 23, 1846. 181Donelson to Buchanan, July 7, 19; Sept. 18, 1846. 132Id., Jan. 8; Feb. 21, private, 1847. 181Canitz to Wheaton, June 25, 1846.
Baron Gerolt, the Prussian minister at Washington, sympathized with and assisted our government (181Buchanan to Donelson, May 23, 1848).
11. 297McLane to Polk (received June 21, 1846). 13To Bankhead, nos. 18, 34, May 31; Oct. 1, 1845; 15, June 1, 1846. 52McLane, nos. 5, Sept. 18, 1845; 50, 54, 55, 69, May 29; June 3, 18; Aug. 15, 1846. 77Murphy, no. 2, Jan. 1, 1846. 52King, no. 28, June 1, 1846. Journal des Débats, Feb. 4, 1845. 137Saunders to Calhoun, June 27, 1846. Gordon, Aberdeen, 183-4. London Morning Post, Jan. 17; Apr. 5, 1846. 335McLane, May 29, 1846. Morning Chronicle, Feb. 3; May 30, 1846. Morning Herald, June 24, 1846. Britannia, May 3, 1845. Times, Sept. 1, 1845; May 14; June 1, 11; Aug. 25, 31, 1846. 13Bankhead, no. 94, Sept. 29, 1845. 52Everett, no. 337, July 4, 1845. Calhoun Correspondence, 698.
12. McLane did not feel quite so confident. His private 297letter of January 17, 1846, to Polk said that in case of war with England he was not sure popular sentiment would be able to restrain the French government; but the representative of Mexico at Paris believed that in such an event the government would probably be unable to "neutralize the effects of the innate hatred of the French toward their neighbors and rivals," the British (77Mangino, Jan. 29, 1846, res.).
13. 77Garro, May 30, 1845, res. 11Mexique, xi, 215 (Deffaudis). 297McLane to Polk, Jan. 17, 1846, private. Charleston Mercury, Sept. 8, 1846 (Paris letter). 52King, nos. 25, 28, 29, Jan. 30; June 1, 30, 1846. National, June 27, 30, 1846. Correspondant, May 1; Nov. 15, 1846; Jan. 15, 1847. Morning Chronicle, Feb. 3, 1846. Journal des Débats, Feb. 4; July 9, 1845.
14. Aberdeen's intimation was construed in England as an offer of mediation, while the American government insisted that no such offer was made by him; but this difference of view did not lead to friction. Pakenham told Buchanan he had received no instructions on the subject, but knew that his government would be glad to bring about peace by interposing its good offices. Buchanan replied that he was afraid formal mediation would prove a vain and "entangling" affair for the mediating power. So thought Pakenham, for he believed the United States would make territorial demands which England would not be willing to countenance or advise Mexico to accept. Buchanan added that we should be glad to have England persuade Mexico to listen to reason, since our government was anxious to establish peace on just and even generous terms (13Pakenham, no. 82, June 28, 1846). Pakenham concluded that our government relied on "the anxiety which England must feel, for the sake of her trade with Mexico and the safety of British mterests committed in so many ways in that country, to see peace reëstablished between the two Republics" (13Id., no. 93, July 13, 1846). Senator Archer hinted to Polk that he (Archer) could bring about mediation through his friend Pakenham, but met of course with no encouragement (Polk, Diary, Sept. 4, 1846).
15. This was described by Palmerston in Parliament as a definite offer of mediation (Morning Chronicle, Aug. 26). The settlement of the Oregon difficulty made such an offer more proper than it would have been at an earlier date.
16. Buchanan was absent from Washington at this time (Pakenham, no. 16). "According to the New York correspondent of the London Times, the Americans feared that unsuccessful mediation might be construed as giving some color of right to authoritative interposition (Times, Oct. 15, 1846).
17. British mediation. Polk, Diary, Sept. 4, 10, 11, 1846. 52To McLane, no. 44, July 27. 52McLane, nos. 55, 69, June 18; Aug. 15, 1846. 52Boyd, no. 3, Sept. 18. 13To Pakenham, no. 10, Aug. 18, 1846. 13Pakenham, nos. 82, 98, 99, 107, 116, 119, 1382, June 28; July 13, 29; Aug. 13; Sept. 13, 28; Nov. 23, 1846; no. 56, Apr. 28, 1847. London Times (Bentinck, Disraeli), Aug. 25; Oct. 15, 1846. 1Ms. speech of Aug. 6, 1846. Morning Chronicle, Aug. 26, 1847. Journal des Débats, (fop) June 30; Aug. 27, 1846.
Both of these British attempts to mediate were accompanied with similar offers to Mexico, which proved equally unfruitful (vol. ii, p. 368). At the end of October Bankhead was instructed to advise Mexico that, since the United States had rejected the British good offices, she should settle with us at once on the most favorable terms that she could obtain.
18. For the benefit of the Mexican government, the Foreign Office wrote to Bankhead (13no. 15), June 1, 1846: "She [Great Britain] would find herself engaged in a war with a Nation with whom she would have no personal cause of quarrel, in behalf of a Nation and Government which she has repeatedly warned in the, most friendly and urgent manner of their danger, and which, solely in consequence of their wilfull contempt of that warning, have at last plunged headlong down the precipice from which the British Government spared no efforts to save them"; and Bankhead was instructed to let Paredes know "the real state of the case without disguise." Aberdeen's thus declining to interfere on behalf of Mexico was particularly natural in view of the talk that had occurred with the Mexican minister at London while the Oregon issue was pending (vol. i, p. 115, and note 27 infra). As a step intended to settle that issue had now been taken, it appeared probable that there would be no longer any occasion to tow Mexico along, and, as Aberdeen was aware on June 1 that hostilities had occurred near the Rio Grande, it seemed important to disentangle himself completely, so as to be able to act with a free hand.
19. July 26, 1846, the Times asserted that a war with the United States "would be the very farthest from being unpopular" (denied the next day by the Morning Chronicle so far as the mass of the Liberals were concerned), and on September 28 said there had been few modern cases in which England could have "imposed" her arbitration with greater reason than upon the United States and Mexico.
20. For this paragraph. 13To Bankhead, nos. 18, May 31; 34, Oct. 1, 1845; 15, June 1, 1846. 77Murphy, no. 17, Nov. 1, 1845, res. London Globe, Aug. 25, 1846. London Spectator, May 30; Sept. 26,1846. 13Palmerston, memo. of reply to Bankhead's no. 46, Apr. 380, 1847. 52McLane, no. 54, June 3, 1846. London Times, July 26; Aug. 25, 26; Sept. 16, 1846. Morning Chronicle, July 27, 1846. Britannia, Mar. 9, 1844; Apr. 18, 1846; Jan. 9, 1847. Examiner, May 30, 1846. Morning Herald, June 24, 1846.
21. 77Murphy, nos. 15, Oct. 1, 1845, muy res.; 17, Nov. 1, 1845, res.; 19, Dec. 1, 1845, res.; 4, Feb. 1, 1846, res. 77Peña y Peña to Murphy, no. 14, Dec. 27, 1845. Diario, Dec. 29, 31, 1846. Mora, Papeles Inéditos, 71-3. Gordon, Aberdeen, 183-4. 13Mora to Palmerston, Dec. 15, 1847. 13Palmerston, memo. in reply to Mora, Dec. 25, 1847; Jan. 1, 1848, to Mora. 13To Bankhead, nos. 18, May 31, 1845; 15, June 1; 4, Aug. 15, 1846. London Times, Sept. 10, 1845; July 15, 1846. For the attitude of England in reference to California see chap. xvi, note 8.
22. Aberdeen told Murphy about the first of August, 1845, that the course of England and France in the event of war between Mexico and the United States would very likely depend upon incidents that might occur, and gave Murphy the impression that he would like to have the war take place and prove favorable to Mexico (77Murphy, no. 9, August 1, 1845). Some friction arose between American authorities and French subjects in California. The United States justly attributed it to the latter, but took occasion to assure France that we would not "tolerate" any action on the part of American agents giving "just cause of complaint" to foreigners inhabiting regions occupied by our troops (Buchanan, Works, vil, 372).
23. The London Examiner of May 15, 1847, said: "Much of the British goods in depot at the West Indian Islands have been forced into Mexico through the medium of the new American custom house at Tampico;" the capture of Vera Cruz will facilitate this operation; "and thus, instead of quarreling with the Americans in behalf of Mexico, we, or at least our traders, are quietly sharing with the Americans the profits of Mexican subjugation." See, however, chap. xxxiii, p. 263.
24. For this paragraph. Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 951. (Broglie) 108Bancroft to Polk, Oct. 18, 1847. Howe, Bancroft, ii, 10, 17. 297McLane to Polk (received June 21, 1846). 52Id., no. 69, Aug. 15, 1846. 52Bancroft, nos. 25, May 3; 46, Dec. 4, 1847. 138Pakenham, nos. 102, Aug. 13; 111, Sept. 13, 1846. 13Crampton, no. 21, July 29, 1847. (Invariably) 13Doyle, no. 5, Jan. 13, 1848. 132Bancroft, Nov. 3, 1846. Buchanan, Works, vii, 290-2, 366-8, 372-3. National, May 1, 1847. Correspondant, May 1, 1846. 53Buchanan to Pageot, July 21, 1847. Examiner, May 15, 1847. 77Murphy, no. 9, Aug. 1, 1845. See chap. xxx, note 8. The Mexicans expected that the injury done to neutral commerce by the war would lead foreign nations to help them (13Bankhead, no. 162, 1846). For privateering see vol. 11, pp. 191-3; for the low tariff, see vol. ii, pp. 261-3.
25. Revolutionary movements broke out in Italy (January), France (February), Germany, and Austria (March). Louis Philippe lost his throne.
26. For this paragraph. 108Bancroft to Polk, Jan. 4; May 14, 1847. 108Id. to Buchanan, Nov. 3, 1847. Howe, Bancroft, ii, 5. London Globe, Aug. 25, 1846. 52Bancroft, no. 46, Dec. 4, 1847. National, Nov. 24, 1845.-Correspondant, Feb. 1, 1846. 297McLane to Polk, Aug. 2, 1846. 73Bermúdez de Castro, no. 294, res., July 28, 1846. 13To Bankhead, no. 15, June 1, 1846. 52Martin, no. 13, May 15, 1847. 52Boyd, no. 2, Sept. 3, 1846.
Peña y Peña (Comunicación Circular) said publicly and distinctly in 1848 that foreign powers signified to Mexico that they regarded the annexation of Texas as an accomplished fact; and he added that the one most interested to prevent the aggrandizement of the United States felt that its economic interests required it to digest in silence its own grievances rather than compromise those interests by declaring war.
27. Aberdeen said to Murphy that England did not wish to fight the United States alone, but added that 'if France would join her, the case would be very different"; and he actually requested the French minister at London to sound Guizot on the subject (77Murphy, no. 15, Oct. 1, 1845, muy res.). After another talk Murphy reported to the same effect: "[Aberdeen] would not mind in the least having a war [with the United States] if he could drag France along behind him" [Nada le importaría esa Guerra si pudiese arrastrar tras sí á la Francia] (77no. 17, Nov. 1, 1845, res.). It is of course possible that Murphy attached too much seriousness to Aberdeen's remarks; but the authorities at Mexico had to take his reports as they stood.
28. Murphy, who seems to have been at this time in the most intimate relations with Aberdeen, reported (77no. 15, Oct. 1, 1845, muy res.): France, in accordance with her long-standing disposition and animosities, "would be capable not only of opposing the views of Great Britain, but even of going so far as to make common cause with the United States against her, forcing Louis Philippe to adopt this extreme course however repugnant it might be to him. It is therefore not strange that the British minister views with dread anything that might expose him to war with the United States without securing a perfect understanding in advance with France, not because he needs the aid of her physical strength in a conflict with those States, but to commit her in such a manner that her physical strength would not be added to that of the enemy, causing perhaps a general conflagration of incalculable consequences in the world."
29. For this paragraph. 108Bancroft to Polk, Jan. 19, 1847. Howe, Bancroft, ii, 5-6. 52Boyd, no. 3, Sept. 18, 1846. 77Murphy, nos. 15, Oct. 1, muy res.; 17, Nov. 1, res., 1845. 132Bancroft, Nov. 3, 1846. 52King, no. 29, June 30, 1846. Journal des Débats, July 9, 1845; Oct. 6, 1846. 52Martin, no. 11, Feb. 28, 1847. Dict. Nat. Biog. (article on Peel).
Dec. 28, 1847, Chargé Thornton was instructed (13no. 2) that, should Mexico propose British mediation, he was merely to say that he would transmit the proposal to London. 30. 108Bancroft to Polk, Jan. 19, 1847. 52Martin, nos. 34, Aug. 31, 1846; 13, May 15, 1847. Dix, Speeches, i, 207. Revue des Deux Mondes, Aug. 1, 1847, 429-31. Washington Union, Oct. 6, 1846 (Paris letter, Sept. 17). (L'Epoque) Niles, July 25, 1846, p. 336. 52King, no. 29, June 30, 1846. Courrier des Etats Unis, July 20, 1846 (résumé of the French press). 77Mangino, Jan. 29, 1846, res.
31. 297McLane to Polk (received June 21, 1846). 52Id., nos. 50, May 29; 54, 55, June 3, 18, 1846. 132Bancroft, May 18, 1847. Journal des Débats, Sept. 19; Dec. 21, 1846. 13Palmerston, memo. of reply to Bankhead's no. 46, Apr. 30, 1847; to Mora, May 31, 1847. London Times, Sept. 16, 1846. 335McLane, May 29, 1846. 108Bancroft to Polk, May 14; June 3, 1847; to Greene, Nov. 3, 1847. Howe, Bancroft, ii, 18, 28. (Anderson) Lawton, Artillery Officer, 232. 52Bancroft, no. 25, May 3, 1847. 52King, nos. 28, 29, 31, June 1, 30; July 20, 1846.
J. F. Ramírez, who saw numerous letters from Europe, concluded by April 3, 1847, that Mexico would receive no aid from that direction (Ramírez, México, 224-5).
32. (Credit) 297McLane to Polk (received June 21, 1846). (Ranelagh) 76Murphy, Oct. 1, 1845; Mora, Papeles Ineditos, 97. (Paredes) Buchanan, Works, vii, 411-3; Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 787, 789, 791, 796, 798; 47Perry to senior British naval officer at V. Cruz, Aug. 18, 1847, and reply, Aug. 21. Britannia, Oct. 17, 1846; Jan. 3, 23; June 5, 1847.
33. There are three reasons for presenting the newspaper quotations of this chapter: 1, They form a part of the history; 2, many indicate that the American task was not considered an easy one; and 3, many show how the Mexicans were encouraged by the European press. This encouragement stood constantly in the way of our making peace. It is well to remember that gibes, quite as offensive, against England could be found in American journals of that period.
34. Times, Oct. 30; Nov. 9, 1846; Jan.1; Feb. 18; Mar.15; Apr. 20, 26, 1847. Britannia, Feb. 20, 1847. Examiner, Dec. 22, 1846.
35. Times, May 10, 12, 1847. Amer. Review, Mar., 1848, p. 249.
36. 297Bancroft to Polk, Jan. 28, 1848. Journal des Débats, Nov. 4, 1846; Feb. 22, 1847. Constitutionnel, Dec. 18, 1846. Times, Aug. 31, 1846; Jan. 1; May 10; Sept. 30; Nov. 13; Dec. 2, 1847; Jan. 4, 20, 1848. Chronicle, Mar. 6; June 1; Sept. 30, 1847. Britannia, Oct. 9, 30; Nov. 13, 1847.
Some of the French papers also bore heavily upon the operations of 1846. Le Journal des Débats said they had been a failure; that no foresight, energy or skill had been displayed; that the war had proved costly and was likely to prove endless. Le Constitutionnel thought our resources might not hold out. But the press of France made no such exhibition of conscious weakness and humiliation trying to hide themselves (108Bancroft to Polk, Jan. 28, 1848) as did that of England.
37. 108Bancroft to Polk, Jan. 4,19; May 14; June 3; Nov. 18, 1847; Jan. 28, 1848. 52McLane, no. 50, May 29, 1846. 52Boyd, no. 3, Sept. 18, 1846. 52Bancroft, no. 25, May 3, 1847. Journal des Débats, Jan. 21; June 1-2, 1846; Oct. 5, 1847; Aug. 15, 1848. 132Bancroft, May 18, 1847. 52King, nos. 21, Jan. 1; 29, June 30, 1846. National, June 18, 1846. 13To Thornton, no. 2, Dec. 28, 1847. 13Mora to Palmerston, Apr. 22; May 26; Dec. 15, 1847; June 26, 1848. 13Palmerston to Mora, May 31 (2); Oct. 7, 1847; June 30, 1848. Britannia, Nov. 13, 1847. Dr. J. M. L. Mora, beginning in April, 1847, endeavored to secure British aid in settling the terms and guaranteeing the permanence of peace, and did not give up until near the end of June, 1848; but Palmerston would not meddle, and cautioned the representative of England that, should a request for British mediation be presented to him, he should simply say the proposition would be transmitted to London. Dec. 28, 1847, the British Foreign Office wrote to Thornton (13no. 2) that Cuevas had asked England to guarantee the treaty of peace; that it was highly improbable the United States would join in making this request; that to guarantee the treaty without a joint application would be equivalent to a contingent alliance with Mexico against the United States; and that England was not likely to take that step in any event.