three powers merely wanted to open negotiations regarding their claims of damages. On April 17, 1862, Juan Almonte, who had been a foreign minister of the conservative government during the Reform War, and who was brought back to Mexico by the French, released his own manifesto, assuring the Mexican people of benevolent French intentions. Zuloaga and Marquez decided to join Almonte, but Mejía , who was reluctant to fight for the Spanish, took on an attitude of wait and see. Meanwhile Spain and Great Britain had come to agreements with the Juarez government and departed Mexico as they learned that France intended to overthrow the Mexican government and replace it with a monarchy. On May, 5, 1862 Charles de Lorencez's small expeditionary force was repulsed at the Battle of Puebla, and the French army retreated to Orizaba to await reinforcements. Mejía was meanwhile based in Queretaro, and he published a newspaper expressing his opinions on the ongoing war. Like other conservatives, he did not believe that the French threatened Mexico’s independence, and by October, he openly supported the establishment of the Second Mexican Empire with Maximilian of Habsburg, as its monarch. By June, 1863, the capital had fallen and a conservative, Mexican government had been installed by the French upon which Mejía headed to the capital to offer his services. Second Mexican Empire In Mexico City he was received warmly by Marshal Forey, then commander in chief of the French forces in Mexico, who resupplied Mejía s troops. Mejía was then given military command over the interior of the nation. Mejía was present at the opening of the Assembly of Notables in July, which resolved to found a monarchy and invite Maximilian of Habsburg to assume the throne. Mejía now took part in the military campaigns by Franco-Mexican forces to consolidate control of the rest of the nation. On December 25, he captured the city of San Luis Potosi. Two days later liberal forces under Miguel Negrete attempted to take back the city only to be utterly routed, losing all of their war material and leaving nine hundred prisoners. The defeat also resulted in the voluntary surrender of the liberal generals Aramberri, Parrodi, and Ampudia. In January, 1864 Mejía was transferred to Matehuala. In May liberal forces under Manuel Doblado attempted to take the town, only to suffer a decisive defeat at the hands of Mejía , causing Doblado to