[Untitled], March.6, 1857

[Untitled]

The undersigned, minister of foreign affairs of his majesty the emperor of Mexico, has the honor to acknowledge the reception of the second joint note, dated the 4th instant, which the representatives of the friendly powers residing in Mexico addressed to him in reply to his note of the 28th of last month.

The undersigned now answers the demand at the end of the joint note—regretting that the representatives have thought it necessary to make the demand—by assuring them that his delay in answering their note of the 9th of last month has not proceeded from want of respect, but from exceptional circumstances impeding the progress of government.

The imperial government is pleased to see the explanations which the representatives wish to make in relation to what they say of treaty rights in their note of the 9th of February; but, under all circumstances, the undersigned is compelled to sustain the sovereign rights of the nation on this point.

In regard to the joint form of the note of the representatives, it did not astonish the undersigned very much; but to a certain extent he thought it singular, and said as much. As to the assertion made by the representatives in their last-note, that the form was usual and in conformity with all diplomatic antecedents in this country, the undersigned will observe, that though the foreign diplomatic corps, during several republican administrations, often addressed the minister of foreign relations in joint notes, it does not prove a rule for usage in diplomatic antecedents in this country. It would be an innovation upon established customs of all nations, as the representatives must know, where the joint form is only used in special cases of the greatest political importance.

Therefore, if the diplomatic corps judge proper in future to use that form, the undersigned will reply separately to each member who signs the joint note.

The undersigned embraces the opportunity, &c.