A Glimpse into the Secret Diplomacy of the Confederate States

A Glimpse into the Secret Diplomacy of the Confederate States [Concluded from Page 10] By Dr. A. L. Curtis hamar is Sent to Russia , The commission first sent abroad found its time too well occupied in France, England, and Belgium, to undertake a mission to Russia. The cooperation of Russia had been sought to act in a joint recognition of the South by the Great Powers of Europe. This had not been successful. The chief executive of the South determined to send Mr. L. Q. C. Lamar, an influ- ential man, as a special commissioner to the court of St. Peters- burg. In due time Mr. Lamar reached Russia. An interesting thing about Mr. Lamar's commission is that it gives us an idea as to what the Southern States considered its duty to other nations. It reads: "When several of the independent states * * * determined to with- draw from the Union and associate themselves in a new Confederation * * * It was natural and proper that they should communicate this fact to the other nations of the earth. The usages of international intercourse require official communication of all organic changes in the Constitution of States." So, to fulfil their duty to Russia, as they had to certain other nations, they sent an authorized representative to the court of Russia, having written instructions to guide him to present an official request to that government for recognition. In the messages and papers of the South which we have, we find Mr. Lamar's commission, we f:nd his instructions, and we know he arrived at St. Petersburg; but, we are left in doubt as to whether he officially requested of this nation recognition or not. However, Russia played her part in the great drama of nations, equally well as one called on by the Southern States, or as one called on by France, England and their associates. We assume that Russia was "called upon." Mann is Sent to Denmark An attempt to be thorough necessitates the mention that Mr. Mann was sent to Denmark. The object was to consult with the authorities on the matter of Africans which were cap- /

110 IMPROVEMENT ERA tured at sea by the North from slave-trading ships being trans- ferred to the Danish West Indies, and to prevent the disposal of Southern slaves on this pretence, if attempted by the North. As this was the sole purpose of the mission, and no attempts were made to officially knock at the door of Denmark, the matter may be dismissed. The Nations not Called Upon The hand of the Lord is seen alike in the Southern States calling upon certain nations, and in not calling upon other nations. The commissioner to Russia, Mr. Lamar, urged the Confederate government to send a commission to Austria and Prussia, thus, "I am satisfied that much service to our cause would be done by your sending a commissioner to the govern- ments of Austria and Prussia. An intelligent gentleman resid- ing in Berlin has assured me that the government and army are extremely favorable to the South, and that the success of the South is not more sincerely desired at any court than that of Austria." Though urgently requested, it is a remarkable fact that no commissioner of the Southern States was ever sent to, or, ever called upon, a nation allied with the Central Powers in the World's War. Rost is Sent to Spain It is stated elsewhere that Pierre A. Rost was sent to Spain. He and William L. Yancey and A. Dudley Mann were commis- sioned to represent the South at the court of the Queen of Spain. Mr. Yancy and Mr. Mann never visited Spain. Mr. Rost arrived at Madrid as the news of the reverses of the South were being received. He waited some time in the expectation of learning the real nature and extent of conditions and especially in the hope that some encouraging news would be received. It did not come. Instead, news came that his own plantation had been overrun by the Northern armies, and his property confiscated, bringing him financial disaster. He asked an unofficial inter- view with the Prime Minister of Spain which was granted. At this interview even his own personal instructions from the Secretary of State were left with the Prime Minister; but the attitude of the Spanish government gave him no encouragement to ask an official interview or present an official request. Mr. Rost's health began to fail. Under financial reverses, broken in health, broken in spirit, he left for Paris, where he tendered his resignation. In this he says, "The state of my health would not permit me to return to Spain. * * * After we are rec- ognized in London and Paris it will be time enough to send a commissioner to Spain, her government being particularly slow

SECRET DIPLOMACY OF CONFEDERATE STATES 111 and intending to be so * * * with regard to us. * * " Mr. Slidell was later delegated a commissioner to Spain but he never visited this government. Spain was visited but not officially "called upon." Mexico is Visited Connected with the attempted overtures of the South to- ward Mexico are all the elements essential to the deepest drama — ambition, energy, achievement — all but gained, a crisis, re- newed effort, pride, pomp, anticipation, trickery, broken faith, disgust. John T. Pickett, of Montgomery, was appointed a commis- sioner to Mexico. Duly commissioned, bearing his letter of in- structions, full of hope, ambitious, and energetic, he reached the City of Mexico. Through his tact and cleverness, he won his way to the heart and confidence of the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs. His purpose and the desire of the Confederacy seemed an assured fact, when a crisis came — conditions changed. But let him tell of this. In his letter to the Secretary of State he said: "Sir, I have the honor to inform you that1 I have succeeded in establish- ing friendly relations with Mr. Zamacona, the New Minister of Foreign Affairs, and but for the unhappy condition of this government (a new revo- lution being about to burst upon it, the English and French Ministers having suspended diplomatic relations, etc.) would feel confident by this time of having accomplished all the material objects of my mission." Like the fairy story, where the youth reached out his hand to pick the gloden pear and it miraculously disappeared, so Picket stood ready to officially call on Mexico with all as- surances of his being received, when the government of Mex- ico simply ceased to exist, and he was left standing in the midst of chaos and revolution. His mission had failed. This revolution in Mexico was undoubtedly fomented by the agents of the Emperor of France, Napoleon III, whose desire and ambition to found an empire in Mexico has already been mentioned. This revolution was only one forward step in the accomplishment of it. With the revolution in progress, with the French army in the ports, and overrunning the terri- tory of Mexico, with Maximilian, after signifying his willing- ness to accept the crown of the new empire, waiting in Paris for plans to be accomplished to carry him and his cortege to the shores of Mexico, let us take a glimpse at the diplomatic activity of the Southern States. The President and Cabinet of the Con- federacy were fully aware of the design and plans of the Em- peror Napoleon III to found an Empire in Mexico and seat Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, on the throne. They; were.

112 IMPROVEMENT ERA not only aware, but apparently in full accord. Proffers of alliances, "offensive and defensive, in Mexican affairs," had been made. The arrival of Maximilian was expectantly and joyfully awaited. In the meantime, the South was active, as shown from this document of State: "Department of State, Richmond, Jan. 7, 1864. General "William Preston, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Government of Mexico. Sir: — Your appointment to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Confederate States near the Emperor of Mexico, having been confirmed by the Senate; it becomes my duty, under the direction of the President) to issue these instructions. * * * (Signed) J. P. Benjamin." General Preston feeling a just pride in receiving the highest honor and title of any Confederate diplomat proceeded on his journey to Mexico. He succeeded in "running the blockade," and reached Havana, Cuba. Maximilian was delayed, and did not sail from France as soon as expected. The Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary determined to wait at Havana the Archduke's arrival, then to enter Mexico amid the pomp and splendor to be tendered to the Emperor. During this wait condi- tions took a change. Mr. Slidell reported he had twice re- quested an interview with Maximilian which had not been granted. Mr. Mann reported, "I have heard from a well-in- formed source, much more to my chagrin than astonishment, that Louis Napoleon had enjoined upon Maximilian to hold no official relations with our commissioners to Mexico." The trickery and broken faith of Napoleon had been manifested. In unexpressed disgust their Envoy Extraordinary was condi- tionally recalled. Mexico was not officially "called upon." Two more countries remain to be considered, one of the small and one of the great among nations. Charles J. Helm is Sent to Cuba Strange as it may seem a duly appointed commissioner was sent to Cuba which was then a Spanish colony. Another thing somewhat unusual was that an official message was sent by this commissioner direct from the President of the Confederacy to the Governor of Cuba. In only one other instance did this hap- pen. All through the Civil War Cuba was a fast friend to the South. Munitions of war, supplies of every description, were sent from Europe direct to Cuba without molestation. In Cu- ban ports the goods were reloaded on Confederate ships which, if luck was with them, "ran the blockade," and delivered these goods in a southern port. Of all countries, Cuba rendered the South the most valiant sen ice. This in part explains the rea- son for her being favored by being officially "called upon."

SECRET DIPLOMACY OF CONFEDERATE STATES 113 Bishop Lynch and A. Dudley Mifinn were Sent to Italy President Davis, of the Southern Confederacy, was so much impressed with the Pops of Rome's endeavors to bring about peace, that he determined to send Bishop P. N. Lynch as a commissioner to the court of the Vatican. This reverend gentle- man, duly commissioned, duly instructed, proceeded on his way to Italy, reaching England and afterwards Paris. From there he left for Rome, but whether he reached Rome or not is difficult to determine, as ther.e is no diplomatic correspondence to show that he did. However, A. Dudley Mann, who had been dele- gated to the court of King Leopold, was appointed a commis- sioner to His Holiness the Pope, by President Jefferson Davis. It was entrusted to him to carry to Rome a special document of state, the President's message to Pope Pius IX. We can better understand the importance of Mr. Mann's mission if we pause and consider the political as well as the ecclesiastical position of the Pope of Rome at this time. The dominion of Pius IV, known as the States of the Church, in- cluded the greater part of Italy at his coronation. At the begin- ning of his reign he gained boundless popularity by his liber- ality. Later a reactionary policy threw him into disfavor and the populace rose against him. In 1849 he was driven by a mob from Rome, and fled to Gaesta, and a Roman Republic was formed. Napoleon III of France determined to restore the papal authority, which he did by resort to arms. Louis Napoleon again, in 1859, assisted the Italians against the Anstrians, and from 1860 to 1866 the Papal government, though its extent had been reduced, was sustained by the presence of a French army. So Mann's mission to Rome was not alone to an ecclesiastical ruler but to a temporal ruler as well. This commissioner reached Rome, presented his credentials to the court of the Vatican and was received by the Pope with no undue delay- In the correspondence this is described in great detail. Space will allow us to present but one paragraph regarding it from Mr. Mann's message to Mr Benjamin, Secretary of State. It reads : "Sir: The Cardinal, Secretary of State Antonelli, officially transmitted, to me yesterday the answer of the Pope to the President. In the very direction of this communication there is a positive recognition of our Government. It is addressed to the 'Illustrious and Honorahle Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America.' Thus we are asknowledged by as high an authority as this world contains, to be an inde- pendent power in the world. I congratudate you, I congratulate the Presi dent, I congratulate his Cabinet — in short, I congratulate all my true- hearted countrymen and countrywomen upon this benign event. The hand of the Lord has been in it, and eternal glory and praise to his holy and righteous name." .

114 IMPROVEMENT ERA Comment and Conclusion The diplomatic papers of the Confederacy, or at least a greater part of them, as has been intimated, were profoundly secret and confidential. Some of them were written in code and sent by trusted messengers. Their contents were known only to the President and his Cabinet and a selected few. After the war they were practically forgotten, and yet remembered. They remained buried as it were, in the archives of the government at Washington for over forty years. Eight years before the out- break of the World War, Congress was moved upon and by a special act of that august body, one of its members was ap- pointed to drag these documents out from the dust and cobwebs of a past generation, and publish them for the first time, to the world. "For God is not unrighteous to forget." Saith the Lord, "I have not spoken in secret from the beginning." To the credit of the Southern States, be it said, they chose wise men for their leaders. The men who occupied the position of Secretary of State were men of great accomplishment. They were attorneys of repute and each had served in the Senate of the United States before the war. They were trained in the us- ages, and customs, traditions and laws of nations. They under- stood the "usages and customs of mankind" necessary for the Confederate states to follow in knocking at the doors of na- tions. For them to formally or officially "call upon another nation" it was thus to be accomplished: (1) It must be done through an agent or commissioner (a) who was duly and of- ficially commissioned to represent the Confederacy and (b) who had written instructions from the Department of State for his guidance. (2) The "call" (request, entreaty, importunity, or de- mand) was to be made in writing and signed by the Commis- sioner himself, or, the Commissioner must carry a document of State signed by the chief executive (a special message of the President) to the Chief Ruler of the country called upon. (3) This official communication must be delivered in person by the Commissioner, into the hands of the proper official, i. e., to the Chief Ruler himself or to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This is the procedure more or less followed at the present day among all nations. The commissioners understood this. They seemed to feel and realize that their part was not properly played if they failed in one or all of these requirements. As for example Slidell, though he associated intimately with the members of the court of Napoleon III, and though he had numerous talks with the Emperor himself, and they understood each other, made in the face of all this a formal demand for recognition by the French government. Of this he writes : "My own decided opinion had

SECRET DIPLOMACY OF CONFEDERATE STATES H5 been in favor of presenting the demands several weeks since; I had yielded to the better judgment of my colleague at London, who had consulted several of our leading friends in Parliament a9 to the expediency of such a step, but I could no longer defer it (the demand for recognition) with any regard to the interest of the government or to self respect." These commisioners were not tramps, vagrants, nor tourists. They left Southern soil for the avowed purpose to represent their country in foreign nations. The official requests were, without exception, for the one and the same thing — recognition. Some may ask, "Why did they not ask for help?" Recognition was the greatest help they could obtain. There could be no intervention without first recognition. With recognition, they could openly buy war-ships, and munitions of war from any and all countries; they could have built or bought, armed and manned navies in foreign ports. Without recognition, they were handicapped, men-of-war had to be secretly built and munitions secretly bought. Though the heart of a nation was with them, the hand of that nation was of necessity against them. Recognition would have been their greatest asset. From, a thorough search and unbiased investigation of the diplomatic correspondence of the Southern States these things were evident: First: That representatives of the Southern States were never sent to, or never called upon, Prussia or any kingdom which later became part of the German Empire, Austria-Hun- gary, or any other country or nation which formed or joined the Central Powers in the World's War. Even Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, refused an interview at Paris. Second: That the following nations were visited, but not formally or officially "called upon": 1 Spain; 2 Mexico; 3 Denmark. Third. That these nations and these nations only were regularly and formally "called upon", according to the cus- toms of nations: 1 Great Britain; 2 France; 3 Belgium; 4 Russia; 5 Cuba; and 6 Italy. The World's War is closed; it is past history. Some facts stand out like mountain peaks on its horizon. It is today the concensus of opin'on of the world that the Central Powers began the war. It is remarkable, but a well known fact, that all the nations visited but not formally "called unon" by the Southern agents, remained neutral in the World War. It is astonishing, but an undeniable fact, that every nation formally "called upon", by the Confederate States: Great Brit- ain, France, Belgium, Russ'a, Italy, and Cuba, the great and

116 IMPROVEMENT ERA mighty of the "jot and tittle" of nations — individually and col- lectively "called upon" other nations for aid, that all joined hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, musket to musket, cannon to cannon, and fought, might and main, to "defend themselves against other nations." It cannot be disputed that during this great and terrible conflict war was "poured out upon all nations", whether neutral or at war. "Tell us what shall be, or come to pass, that we may know ye are gods," the prophet of old enjoined the idols. The Lord, through Joseph Smith, said, "The Southern States will call on other nations." To know the future lies only with the Lord. Man may predict crises or great events when practically face to face with them, but with no degree of certainty. In the late world's war, the world's greatest statesmen,£en erish and uncertain, labored with Italy, appealed to her honor, worked on her fears, and through flattery and bribes tried to sway her to their side. The whole world anxiously, wonderingly and unquestioningly looked on for weeks and weeks for her first uncertain step. Yet, although she, at the beginning of the war, was bound by treaties and by the strongest ties of mankind otherwise, her place was pointed out, her rank and file designated and her lot cast over eighty years before by Him who rules all nations. What a marvelous array of facts, what evidence that God lives and that the nations of the earth are as but clay in the hands of the potter to him who knows the end from the beginning. Man, with all his shrewdness, could not have predicted the rebellion of South Carolina twenty-nine years before it happened. Man could not have foretold that the rebellion of South Carolina would be the beginning of a civil war, and a series of wars. He could not have foretold at this time that the Southern States would be divided against the Northern States in bloody combat. No liv- ing person could have foretold that the Southern States would call upon Great Britain and other nations. No one could have foretold that these very nations thus called upon would ally themselves and call upon other nations to join them in a united defense against common foes. No one could have predicted eight-two years before hand the World's War and have pointed out the nations which would play the important roles on the defensive side. To believe such would be believing things far more absurd than that God lives and that he reveals his secrets to his servants the prophets. "They have Mose^ and the prophets," said the Savior, "if they will not believe them, neither would they believe, though one should rise from the dead." "Trust the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." "Hearken

SECRET DIPLOMACY OF CONFEDERATE STATES li7 unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called, I am he, I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens, when I call unto them they stand up together. All ye, assemble yourselves and hear * * * I, even I, have spoken." Endurato The phantoms of my childhood's hope, The day dreams of my trust. The idols of my manhood's prime, All, all, have turned to dust. The lesser lights, that once burned bright, Have flickered and gone out; The beams have vanished from my sight, The ashes lie about. But Ah, the Star that gleamed on high, O'er Bethlehem's quiet plain, Still sends its rays adown the years, Alight, while time remains. And, oh, the light about The Head Still o'er my way appears! The halo of that God-lent crown Grows brighter with the years. Tridell, Utah. Mrs. Alice Morrill The Feeling of Autumn (With apologies to O. S. Johnson) 'Tis autumn here, 'Tis Autumn here, Where the fertile valley stretches; Where the mountain air is cooling; Where the checkered fields Where the master artist Are ripe with Nature's season's toil. Is painting, in shades of golden-brown. Do you love Autumn? Do you love Autumn? 'Tis autumn here, 'Tis Autumn here, Where the days are gently passing; Where the soul of man respondeth; Where the winds of sadness Where the harvest moon tells, Lend enchantment to Summer's spell. In mystery, the omnipotence of God. Do you love Autumn? Do you love Autumn? Richfield, Utah Wallace C. Thompson

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