Sir J. Crampton to Earl Russell (Received September 22) San Ildefonso, September 13, 1861 My Lord, In a late conversation with Marshal O'Donnell, his Excellency spoke of the present deplorable condition of Mexico. Spain, he remarked, had suspended her diplomatic relations with the Mexican Government, and he perceived both France and England had taken the same step. But would this be sufficient? He thought not. The motives of the three Governments in following this course were evidently the same, viz., to enforce redress for the intolerable wrongs inflicted upon their respective subjects by the anarchical Governments which succeeded each other in that distracted country. It appeared to him, therefore, to be both possible and very desirable that England, France and Spain should come to an understanding as to the adoption of some common course in enforcing upon Mexico the observance of her international duties. "With respect to Spain" the Marshal added, "the number of our subjects in Mexico is so great, and the interests involved so considerable, that I have no hesitation in telling you that we, at all events, must take decided measures to protect them. In short, we shall go there, not certainly with any view of conquest or exclusive advantage, but for the protection of our rights." I observed that I was not at present in possession of the precise views of Her Majesty's Government as to what had lately taken place in Mexico, or the remedies which would be applicable to what seemed an almost hopeless state of affairs. I was, however, aware that British subjects had suffered repeated acts of oppression and denial of justice in Mexico, and I had seen it reported that our diplomatic relations with that country had been suspended. I would not fail, consequently, to acquaint your Lordship with what had fallen from his Excellency on this matter. On pursuing the subject I did not find Marshal O'Donnell prepared to suggest any definite plan of action on the part of the Powers whose joint intervention he recommended. His Excellency remarked, however, that the notion which had at different times been put forward of establishing by foreign intervention a Constitutional Monarchy in Mexico was in his opinion, very chimerical, and he seemed entirely to concur in the justness of a remark which I made in regard to this matter, viz., that any engagement which should bind England, France and Spain to a permanent intervention or tutelage of any sort in the internal affairs of a country so situated as Mexico would be liable to grave objections. I am the more particular in drawing your Lordship's attention to this opinion of Marshal O'Donnell because a large portion of the Spanish Press has lately been advocating an intervention of this sort, and the establishment of a monarchy in Mexico, and indulging in wild speculations as to the recovery by Spain of her ancient possessions in America and the "Indies." (signed) JOHN F. CRAMPTON Back to Table of Contents: Booklet No. 8, Mexico 1861-67 Back to El Dorado List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by The South and Central Military Historians Society This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com