74 Chapter 2
French property during civil conflicts, and an obstruction of justice on the Mexicans’
part. The French demanded 600,000 pesos. No satisfaction was given and a blockade
was declared on April 16 and seizure of Mexican ships ensued.
Eight months passed before the English intervened to assist in a resolution of
the Franco-Mexican controversy. Negotiations began in February 1839. By March
7, France agreed to drop some of their demands, among them the prohibition of
forced loans from French citizens in Mexico, the removal of Mexican officials from
office and indemnification, and a treaty was ultimately signed on March 9. The two
countries promised peace and friendship and agreed to submit matters between them
(debt, reparations, ships seized by France) to arbitration. Both assured mutual rights
of free access until a commerce and navigation treaty could be signed that would
otherwise qualify these, and the French promised to release the fortress at Ulua,
which it had taken during the blockade. Mexico was to ratify the treaty in 12 days.
A supplementary convention was also signed the same day, in which France got its
600,000 pesos.
Coding changes: Settlement changed from Imposed.
MID#135
Dispute Number: 135
Date(s): October 31, 1861 to February 5, 1867
Participants: 200 United Kingdom, 220 France, 230 Spain/70 Mexico
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side B (Imposed)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: By 1861 France’s interest in Mexico was multifaceted. Importantly, with
the United States mired in a civil war, American commitment to enforcing the terms
of the Monroe Doctrine was suspect, and European powers were now potentially free
to exploit the Americas. France capitalized by trying to resolve its grievances with
Mexico by force. Most of the issues between France and Mexico were over debts
and treatment of foreign nationals (see: Pastry War, MID#160), but Napoleon III was
convinced by both the Conservatives in Mexico and his advisors in Paris that he could
effectively administer Mexico and would be welcomed by the Mexican population.
Napoleon III courted Britain and Spain to assist him since both states also had linger-
ing debt issues with the Mexican government.
The preliminary action was an occupation of Veracruz by France, Britain, and
Spain, which occurred on December 17, 1861. Shortly thereafter, Britain and Spain
opted out of continued conflict once it got assurances from Mexico City that their debt
obligations would be satisfactorily handled. Neither state had territorial ambitions in
Mexico. France, though, wanted more. The French began an advance on Mexico City
on April 16, 1862, inaugurating war.
The war ended five years later. The United States had ended its civil war and begun
pressing France for withdrawal. Popular Mexican distaste for the French presence,
especially the installed Maximilian, also intensified. French withdrawal began in 1866
and was completed by February 5, 1867. With no French support, Maximilian was
eventually captured and executed by the Mexicans on June 19.