The United States and Franco-Mexican Affairs.
--A correspondence has taken place recently between the
French commander of the France-
Mexican forces and
General Weitzel, commander at
Brownsville, which displays considerable jealousy of the intentions of the United States forces on the part of the Frenchman, and some impatience with the complaints of the Frenchman on the part of
General Weitzel.
In fact, the
French commander,
General Cloue, commanding the naval division of the
Gulf of Mexico, complains with so much emphasis of the acts of doubtful friendship and positive hostility from the
American forces, and urges with such reproachful earnestness the wide contrast between the conduct of the
United States authorities and the loyal neutrality observed by
France during the the recent domestic war in this country, that
General Weitzel considered his communication disrespectful, and returned it with a curt note.
After all this, and before
General Cloue received this note and his returned letter, he writes another, complaining of a serious breach of neutrality on the part of the United States forces firing upon the
French marines on board the steamer
Antonio, going up the
Rio Grande.
In reply,
General Weitzel says he had received a similar complaint from
General Mejia; but he declined carrying on a correspondence with two commanders on the same subject.
He, however, to say that before receiving either letter he had instituted inquiries upon the subject.
The condition of affairs on the
Rio Grande is plainly very troublesome, and any commander stationed there will have his hands full to preserve peace.
