THE EXPEDITON TO MEXICO

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1718, 22 April 1862, Page 5

THE EXPEDITON TO MEXICO

La Patrie announces that it is the iutention of France to send to Mexico n body of troops equal to that of the expeditionary corps to Syria. This corps will be placed under the command of n general of infantry. "We are also informed/ 1 says La Patrie, " that the last despatches received from Mexico have decided the allied nations to adopt final measures as regards that country, and to occupy its capital until a permanent and regular government is established there with the free consent of the population." The Paris correspondent of the Daily News says : — The Presse says, " with all reserve," (an unnecessary precaution, as )* believe the news to be substantially true), that a new and special expeditionary corps will be immediately scut to Mexico. It is to be about as strong as the force which lately occupied Syria, and will be commanded by a brigadier general, who, on his arrival, will assume the command iv chief of the allied annies — French, Spanish, and English — in Mexico. It is stated that this arrangement is connected with a plan for placing Mexico under the government of a constitutional king, to be chosen from the European royal family, not being one belonging to either of the three powers that have undertaken the present expedition. Curiously enough this statement corresponds to a certain extent, with a vague rumour current some time siuce, that France thought of offering the throne of Mexico to the Archduke Maximilian of Austria, as a compensation for the surrender of Venice to Italy. That such a project should now be upon the tapis is, hower, very inconsistent with the warlike disposition of Francis Joseph, spoken of in all the latest Vienna letters, which represent him as screwing up his courage more and more to attempt the revenge of Magenta and Solferino. It is to be observed that the Moniteur, without being so explicit as the Presse, contains in its long article to-day, on Mexican affairs, some significant lines about a " modification in the political regimen of the country," and " measures which, while respecting its independence and dealing delicately with its dignity, will tend to plaoe the conditions of order and security upon a durable footing." A despatch from Oran (Algeria), states that at the moment when 600 Zouaves were about, to embark for Mexio, counter orders arrived, on the ground that a more considerable force was about to be sent. This is a confirmaliou of the above statement as to the contemplated strength of the expedition. The Paris correspondent of the Morning Herald says :— Orders have been sent by telegraph to Cherbourg to prepare with the utmost despatch steam transports to convey to Mexico 6400 men, Major General Count de Lorency is appointed to the command of the force, which is to be supplied almost exclusively by regiments quartered at Algeria, and already inured to a olimate which offers many points of resemblance with that of inter-tropical America. In addition to the ships preparing at Cherbourg, the line-of-battle screw steamer Fontenoy, at Toulon, has been ordered to land her main deck guns and to proceed without delay to Orau, to take on board 1 100 Zouaves and a detachment of African cavalry. The Paris correspondent of the Morning Herald says ;— The most salient piece of news to-day relates to Mexico. In addition to the 6000 men already sent, the French Government—acting, it i 3 stated, with the sanction of our dwn-— have determined to despatch another force, about 8000 strong, under a Major

General and his staff, who is to take the command in chief. This step has been decided on in consequence of the pretension of Spain, who refuses to act in concert with her allies, aud seems inclined to carry on the war in her own way and for her own especial benefit. In addition to the above intelligence, which I am inclined to think correct, it is stated but I do not vouch for it, that formal overtures have beon made to Austria, offering to bestow the throne of Mexico on Arckduke Max (the husband of Princess Charlotte of Belgium). It is added, as much might have been expected, that the cession of Venetia is attached as a condition to this proposed elevation of the Austrian Archduke. I cannot say whether such overtures have been made, but they are so talked about that as il ny a pas defames sans feu, I presume there is something in it. If, however, the condition alluded to is a sine qua non, there can be no doubt that the negotiations will fail.