Tomas Mejia to Andres Viezca, August 24, 1866

Department of State, Office of War and Marine–Section first.

The president of the republic has learned from your communication of the 8th instant that General Douay expressed a desire to enter into arrangements, through Simon Blanco, to exchange the French prisoners captured at Santa Isabel.

The treatment of our men, when taken prisoners, would be a sufficient excuse for us to treat yours in a similar manner. Our humanity and benevolence to your prisoners, exchanging them when requested, is recompensed by the infamous assassination of General Arteaga, Salazar, and many others, on your part, at Morelia and other places.

It seems to me to be the rule of those who fight to consolidate the monarchy to try to exterminate those who oppose them and foreign intervention; but such barbarous acts have not been initiated by us, not even in reprisals.

In consideration of this the president has determined not to exchange the French prisoners in his hands unless the French general will promise to treat our prisoners with the same consideration, without regard to the dress of our soldiers, who are often poorly clad, and not in uniform. The patriotism of our people is so great they fight in any dress, and should have the greater merit for it and not condemned.