The Minister of Foreign Affairs to the French Minister at Washington.
Monsieur le Marquis: In the course of an interview which I had with Mr. Bigelow on the subject of raising the restrictive measures resulting from the neutrality of France, I reminded the United States minister that France had reason to reckon on the vigilance and firmness of his government to prevent or repress all acts which might, with respect to Mexico, weaken the cordiality of our relations. I also spoke to him of the reception accorded to you by President Johnson. I repeated, as I informed you on the 30th of last month, that we had heard with pleasure of the assurances given to you by the President of the friendly dispositions of the people of the United States towards us, and of the intention of that government to preserve the tradition of them. I added that the language addressed to you by Mr. Johnson, nevertheless, called for an observation on my part. I could not, indeed, abstain from expressing some astonishment at seeing the President inaugurate the relations of his government with the representative of the Emperor by [Page 693] referring to an anxiety about events of a nature calculated to disturb them. That concern to “anticipate beyond all ordinary prevision eventualities quite unlikely,” and which might compromise the good relations which, it is affirmed, there is a sincere desire to maintain, did not appear to me the best means of assuring their duration. I could therefore but regret the expression of that excessive aforethought, especially in the circumstance when it had occurred. That portion of President Johnson’s speech is no doubt addressed, as you remark, to a portion of the American public, and has been suggested by the desire of conciliating certain national susceptibilities. I understand it as such; but the fact must not be forgotten, as my duty was to remark it to Mr. Bigelow, that the French nation also has its susceptibilities, which are not less respectable, and to avoid wounding which is equally important.
Receive, &c.,