C. Matias Romero to William H. Seward, & c ., & c ., & c, October 10, 1866

Señor Romero to Mr. Seward

Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to transmit to you, for the information of the government of the United States, various documents intercepted from the agents of the usurper Maximilian, all of them dated in Brussels the 17th of September, and signed by Felix Eloin, the so-called state counsellor in commission, which are as follows:

1. A letter addressed to the usurper, informing him that the French government disapproves of the appointment of the French Generals Osmont and Friant as ministers, and seems disposed to get rid of Maximilian; and advising him to appeal to the popular vote when the French forces are withdrawn from Mexico.

2. A telegram addressed to the same, to be forwarded immediately from New York, containing a synopsis of the letter.

3. A letter addressed to Don Juan Devincenties, so-called director of civil affairs in the private office of the usurper, in regard to his private interests.

4. A communication to Don N. Rosas, entitled consular agent of the empire of Mexico in New York, requesting him to send the mentioned letters to their address.

I think these documents of great importance, as they plainly show the state of relations between the French agent in Mexico and his chief, the Emperor Napoleon, and the plans of the former, in case the French army, or a portion of it, is withdrawn from Mexico.

M. Felix Eloin is a Belgian, who enjoyed the confidence of the late King Leopold, who bequeathed him to his son-in-law, Maximilian, when the latter left, seeking for adventures in Mexico, as a person of discretion whom he could trust, and whose advice might be of service. He has been looked upon in Mexico for some time as Maximilian’s director. Not long ago he was sent to Europe to operate for the usurper, who is conscious that his stay in Mexico depends solely upon foreign support. The letter was written after his interview with Maximilian’s wife at Miramar, and it is certain that its contents express the ideas of Doño Carlotta Leopoldina and those of her husband, rather than the writer’s private opinions.

Taking this into consideration, I do not think it unreasonable to believe that M. Felix Eloin gives in his letter the desires, sentiments, and plans of his master, particularly when we reflect that he is one of those courtiers who tell their sovereigns only what will please them and what conforms to their wishes and aims.

From these premises I deduce the following facts:

1. The relations between the Emperor Napoleon and his agent Maximilian are not as cordial as the latter would like, because, it seems, the former is beginning to see the absurdity and impossibility of undertaking to establish an Austro-French monarchy in Mexico, and seems to be disposed to give up the idea, and this is not at all pleasing to the latter.

2. That Maximilian intends to remain in Mexico, even if the French army is withdrawn from the republic, and submit the question of his rule to the popular vote. This proves at the same time that even his friends and servants have little confidence in the validity of the titles with which he now pretends to govern, since they find it necessary to confirm them by an appeal to popular suffrage, when the people shall be free from the duress of foreign intervention, as he says in his own words.

3. That the usurper Maximilian, not satisfied with the calamities that his ambition has brought on Mexico, seeks to harm his own country by putting himself up as a rival of his brother, the Emperor of Austria. The allusions made to him on this subject by M. Felix Eloin would be taken as an insult by any other than Maximilian, and it is certain they would not have been made if the author was not certain they would be well received.

4. That even Maximilian’s servants are despairing of his cause in Mexico, and only on account of his personal difficulties with the Emperor Napoleon, and to stand well in public opinion in Europe, and be qualified for a candidate to the throne of Austria, or any other in prospect, he is desired to take what is called a respectable departure, so as not to damage his reputation, and in a different way from that proposed by the Emperor Napoleon.

5. That even in the eyes of the own servants of Maximilian, the French agent in Mexico, French policy has been darkened by odious acts productive of fatal consequences, for which it must be responsible sooner or later.

In conclusion, what must we think of the good faith of the Emperor of the French, even towards those who serve him best, when we see him making promises of future aid, and suffering his Mexican agent to make ministers of his own soldiers, and tries to place the entire revenues of the country at his disposal, and just as this is done he disapproves the conduct of the French generals who accept portfolios from Maximilian, which was only doing openly what had been done secretly ever since the beginning of the intervention by every member of the French army, with the full consent and authority of the government?

Such are the considerations that have occurred to me in view of the documents which I now send you. Their authenticity and the importance of the subject are sufficient reasons, in my opinion, for submitting them to the serious consideration of the government of the United States.

Thinking you might look upon these documents from a different point of view than that which I have taken, and believing them to be of use to the government of the United States in the direction of its future policy in relation to the affairs of Mexico, I have concluded to send them to you in the original, just as I received them.

I am pleased to have this occasion of renewing to you, Mr. Secretary, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.

[Untitled]

1029, 1462, 1729, 1333, 1903; Osmont, Friant, 598, 163, 1395; Castelnau 589, 2920, 223, 1060, 1846, 1170; Lavalett 1635, 220, 176: De Moustier 1064, 1443, 942, 1225, 171, 1361, 192, 2146, 658, 371, 1965, 1608, 943, 1270, 590, 146, 1896, 103, 223, 2170, 1029, 715, 1296, 1997, 1785, 1205.

[Translation.]

Mr. Consul: According to his Majesty’s order I beg you, as soon as possible, to place the emperor Maximilian in possession of the telegram in cipher, hereto annexed. The orders of his Majesty are to despatch it telegraphically by way of New Orleans, Florida, and Havana, and thence by Vera Cruz, following the telegraph, to Mexico. As for the despatches herewith, please also to have them reach Vera Cruz by the readiest means.

Receive, Mr. Consular Agent, my cordial salutations.