Question: who went to france as a militia diplomat

title: Trent Affair
text: By August 1861 , Yancey was sick , frustrated , and ready to resign . In the same month , President Davis had decided that he needed diplomats in Britain and France . Specifically , ministers that would be better suited to serve as Confederate ministers , should the Confederacy achieve international recognition . He selected John Slidell of Louisiana and James Mason of Virginia . Both men were widely respected throughout the South , and had some background in foreign affairs . Slidell had been appointed as a negotiator by President Polk at the end of the Mexican War , and Mason had been chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1847 to 1860 . 

Answer: answer: President Davis had decided that he needed diplomats in Britain and France. He selected John Slidell of Louisiana and James Mason of Virginia.