396 AMKKK'AN DIPLOMATIC nl KSTInNs 



ate affairs to seriously trouble him ; he realized, however, 

 that he must act with caution, and not unduly alarm the 

 watchful authorities at Washington, hence, the resurrected 

 French claims, the convention of London, the proclamation 

 of his general in Vera Cruz, and the Soledad Conference. 

 No doubt Napoleon was encouraged by the mild tone of 

 American protest. He had well chosen his time, for at that 

 particular moment it was inexpedient for the United States 

 to make enemies abroad. 



Marshal Forey, with his letter of instructions, arrived at 

 Vera Cruz, in September, 1862, and immediately assumed 

 command of a largely augmented French force. After over- 

 coming the resistance of the Mexicans in several hard-fought 

 battles, Forey entered the capital June 10, 1863, and estab- 

 lished a provisional government, consisting of a regency, in 

 which he himself was the central figure. A branch of the 

 new government, styled the " Assembly of Notables," lost 

 no time in reporting to Napoleon that the Mexican nation 

 "adopts a monarchical and hereditary form of government 

 under a Catholic prince" who shall take the "title of Em- 

 peror " - the choice for ruler bein^, - 1 1 is Imperial and Royal 

 Highness, the Prince Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria." 



The Archduke, Maximilian of Austria, was a member 

 of the House of Hapsburg, a man of ambition, of honest 

 intentions, of small political sagacity, and of little experience 

 in worldly affairs. He was a tool in the hands of Napoleon. 

 Before accepting the honor of an emperor's crown in Mexico, 

 he desired undoubted assurance that the choice of himself was 

 in reality the choice of the Mexican people, and Napoleon's 

 officials in Mexico were clever enough to obtain for the arch- 

 duke every assurance he needed on that score. Finally con- 

 vinced, and therefore believing himself to have the support 

 of "an immense majority" <>f Mexicans, he accepted the 

 honor. He was crowned at "Mit-ainun, and in June, 1864, was 

 welcomed into the city of Mexico with great demonstrations 

 of joy. 



The pleasing personality of the emperor, along with his 

 good sense in recognizing the Liberals in the matter of 



