Note 27 — XXXV THE FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE WAR 1846–1848

Aberdeen said to Murphy that England did not wish to fight the United States alone, but added that “if France would join her, the case would be very different”; and he actually requested the French minister at London to sound Guizot on the subject (77Murphy, no. 15, Oct. 1, 1845, muy res.). After another talk Murphy reported to the same effect: “[Aberdeen] would not mind in the least having a war [with the United States] if he could drag France along behind him” [Nada le importaría esa Guerra si pudiese arrastrar tras sí á la Francia] (77no. 17, Nov. 1, 1845, res.). It is of course possible that Murphy attached too much seriousness to Aberdeen’s remarks; but the authorities at Mexico had to take his reports as they stood.