OUR RELATIONS WITH FRANCE: The Vessels Building for the Rebels in French Ports; A SIGNIFICANT SEMI-OFFICIAL UTTERANCE (2/17/1864)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 2/17/1864

[Homer_J_Simpson]

PARIS, TUESDAY, Jan. 26, 1864

The Moniteur de l' Armee, the official military paper of the French Government, contains a paragraph in its issue of the 21st instant, which I am told was inserted by superior order, and which conceals, under a simple form, an evil design against the Government of the United States. The paragraph reads thus:

"CHINA. -- Our private correspondence from China is to the 12th December. By it we learn that the officers of the English navy who had taken service in the Chinese navy, had broken their engagement and left for Bombay, taking with them the war vessels constructed in the ports of Great Britain on Chinese account. The Chinese Government, in this dilemma, ordered to be bought in America a certain number of gunboats, which are to arrive about the middle of February at Petchi-li, and which are to be used in the blockade of Nankin. It was decided that several other vessels should be ordered from the private ship-builders of France; Among these vessels are two cuirassed frigates, which are to form the basis of the new Chinese fleet."

The work on the Confederate vessels at Bordeaux and Nantes goes on, and this inoffensive looking note of the Moniteur de l'Armee, is said to be intended to prepare the way for the sortie of these vessels when finished. If the vessels, by any successful dodge, should get into the hands of the Confederate agents, the French Government can point to the official army paper as having indicated that they were intended for China, and that the Confederates bought and turned them from their original destination. We know that the French Government often adopts this small method for securing its ends,

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4217789/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1

2

3

4

5

6

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Our Relations with France: The Vessels Building for the Rebels in French Ports – 2
From North Carolina: Gen. Peck Again at His Post – 2-3
Gen. Butler’s Department: Arrival of Twenty-six of the Escaped Union Officers at Yorktown – 3
From the Mississippi – 3
The War in Mississippi: Details of Gen. Sherman’s Advance – 3
East Tennessee and Kentucky: Gen Foster in Cincinnati – 3
From Chattanooga: A Furious Storm – 3
The Command in Kentucky – 3
The War in the Southwest – 3
From Washington: The Recent Destruction of Blockade-Runners – 3-4
Proceedings of Congress: Senate – 4
Editorial: The Restoration of Louisiana – 4-5
Editorial: Rebel Ships in French Ports – 5
The Exchange of Prisoners – 5-6
Amusements – 6
Mr. H.B. Dawson’s Edition of the Federalist – 6
George Thompson at Boston – 6
Emancipation in Maryland – 6
Payment of State Bounties – 6