HIS PART IN THE CIVIL WAR 177 



of California from the Union and its restoration to 

 Mexico. Maury hoped that, in this way, foreign com- 

 pHcations would arise, which would result in European 

 intervention that would bring the war to a close. 



At first, the scheme was received with great favor by 

 Maximilian. Meanwhile, Napoleon changed his mind 

 concerning any plan he may have once had for the recog- 

 nition of the Confederacy and intervention in her behalf, 

 probably because of England's repeated refusals to join 

 with him in any such action. As Bulloch says, 'The 

 invitation to build ships in France was given during the 

 period of successful resistance at the South, and of ap- 

 parent doubt and trepidation at the North. It was 

 withdrawn when force of numbers and immeasurable 

 superiority in war material began to prevail, and when 

 aid and encouragement was most needed by the weaker 

 side. It suited the Imperial policy, and appeared to be 

 consistent with the designs upon Mexico, to extend a 

 clandestine support to the South when the Confederate 

 armies were still strong and exultant". ^ Accordingly, 

 when Maximilian visited the Emperor in Paris to consult 

 in regard to his acceptance of the Mexican throne, he 

 was persuaded by Napoleon to give up his plan of 

 recognizing the Confederacy and entering into intimate 

 relations with that government; and he did not receive 

 Slidell, the Confederate representati:ve, in Paris, as he 

 had fully expected to do. Nothing further came of 

 Maury's plan. Maximilian was proclaimed Emperor 

 of Mexico by a deputation from that country at the 

 Archduke's palace at Mirarmar on the Adriatic, on 

 April 10, 1864; and on the 15th of that month he em- 



3 "The Secret Service of the Confederate States in Europe", James D. 

 Bulloch, II, 62-63. 



