Why did Napoleon III need Britain's approval?

[Color-Copycat]

Originally Posted by Elfwine

Did he go into Mexico expecting it to be that ugly?

Not only that, but Napoleon III initially went into the whole affair with the British and Spanish at his side. They only pulled out when French intentions regarding the long term occupation became clear.

[Bob in Pittsburgh]

I think he saw his ultimate misadventure in Mexico as more promising. I also wonder what he could have done. In 1863 the French Bank Erlanger offered to underwrite $25,000,000 of CSA bonds repayable after the war in cotton. Jefferson Davis and his government would somewhat reluctantly take $15,000,000. There were real doubts about the ability of the Royal Navy to break the Union blockade. The French Navy could not have done so. France did not have a large army they could have sent.

So much of the discussion has focused on diplomatic recognition. The presence of French or British diplomats in Richmond would not have been a darn thing. Blockade as a legitimate tool of war was recognized by the 1855 Treaty of Paris so that would not have changed. Seward blustered that recognition = war but I can’t see Lincoln declaring war on France or Great Britain.