Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward
This morning Mr. Romero received a note from Mr. Seward, requesting him to call at the Department of State as soon as convenient. Mr. Romero called at once, and Mr. Seward asked him what news he had received about the last events in Mexico. Mr. Romero answered Mr. Seward that none besides such as Mr. Seward had communicated to him the day before yesterday, and those which have been published afterwards in the newspapers; but that to-morrow, or the day after, Mr. Romero expected his correspondence from San Luis Potosi; perhaps up to the date of the 15th. Mr. Seward then asked Mr. Romero several questions about the way in which the news from Mexico would come, when some later, to the 15th, could be received; whether they would come sooner by Acapulco and San Francisco, and several others. In conclusion, Mr. Seward requested Mr. Romero, in the most special manner, that as soon as he might receive some correspondence from Mexico he would communicate to Mr. Seward the news he might have.
The cause for his anxiety for such news was, as Mr. Seward stated, that the Austrian minister had called on him to-day at an early hour and showed him a telegram he had just received, in which he was recommended to again solicit, with the speed required by the case, the earnest interposition of this government in favor of Maximilian. Mr. Seward told Mr. Romero he feared very much that a hasty mediation might produce, in the present condition of affairs, some results contrary to those wished for, and that he consequently thought more prudent to wait until some events posterior to the capture of Queretaro would transpire; that, besides, possibly at this time events might have matured, and that the Mexican government might see things in the same light as Mr. Seward, and that it was useless to intervene; that on this account he wished to know as soon as possible what might have occurred, to take, accordingly, the action he would deem advisable. Mr. Romero offered to communicate to Mr. Seward the news he may have as soon as received.
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The foregoing memorandum is taken from a despatch addressed by Mr. Romero to the secretary of foreign affairs of the republic of Mexico, on the 29th of May, 1867, No. 220, mailed in Washington on the 1st of June following.
Washington, July 12, 1867.