Star.
London, England, 1824-03-05 00:00:00

STATE :PAPERS.
-"l'Vr" • ,
commuxrcATloNs WITH yRANCE gam SPAIN RR-
.I.ATING to the SPANISH AMERICAS PROVINCES-
Presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of his Ma-
jesty, March, 1824.
.60.1.—EXTRACT OF A sr ENfORANDUDX OF A CONFERENCE
st.rwr.EN TILE PRINCE DE P:MIGNAC AND Nit. CAN"
VINO, lIELD OCTOBER 9TII, 1823.
The Prince de Polignac having announced to Mr.
Canning tharhis Excellency was now prepared to enter
_ssith Mr. Canning into a frank explanation of the
views of his Government respecting the question of
Sparri,ll America, in return fur a communication
s Bich Mr. Canning had previnu,ly offered to make to
.the. Prince de Polignac on the part of the British Cabi-
pet, Mr. Canning stated—
That the British Cabinet had no disguise or reserva-
. tipn on that subject ; that their opinions and intentions
were substantially the same as were announced to the
Government, by the dispatch of Mr. Canning to
`Sir, Charles Stuart of the 31st of Mardi ; which dispatch
that Ambasladetr cam mynicated to M. de Chateaubriand
and.syhtch has since beeri published to the•world.
Tliat the.nearapproach of a, crisis, in which the affairs
.arsp4o,,h.Ainefica must naturally occupy a great share
.uf,Ae.amention of both }owers, made it desirable that
,there should be no misunderstanding between them on
any kart of alnbject so important.
',That the lffitish GrPfernment were of opinion, that
.19y attempt to Ining Spanish America again under its.
- .ancieat subtrission to Spain must be utterly hopeless;
..itrat7:lll,oeggPtiatiOn for that purpose would be unitise.
_;00(91 ;*tdathit the prolongaiiiin or renewal of war for
the wipe iisbrct, would.be only a waste of human life,
r;cl..arr milictiora arialsturity on. both parties, to no end.
That 7the *Biltiili.GOvernment would, however, not
only abstain (torn interposing any' obstacle on their part
to Amy attenipt at negotiation which Spain might think
.Koper to, make, but would nisi and countenance. such
providesi it were foayded npnn a basis
i'4l),appeFed to tbem to be practicable ; and that they
would, in any case, remain stricily.neutral in a' wai.be-
tsvcen Spiijn and the Colonies,if war should be unhap-
.
piiy piolonged.
But that, the junction of any foreign Power, in an en-
terpii,se of Spain against the Cbl9nies, would be' viewed
by them as constituting an new question; and
• one jion which they must .t4e.anch decision as the in-
tAtre?ts of Greii.Pfritain might ,roitiFe: •
That the British Gogetnsgti t absolutely disclaimed,
not only anyclesire of .apkiciprisiting to itself any pot-
lion of the Spanish colOmes,.htie any intention of form-,
ingany political "connection with them, beyond that of
amity and commercial intorcOlirse. •
That in- those respects, :so far from :seeking an exclu-
sive preference for-British subjects over those of foreign
States, England .was pOpared,.and wotild be contented,
to see the mother country (by virtue of an amicable at--
rangement) in pgssesion of that preference; and to be
ranked, after her, equally with others, on the footing of
the most favoured nation.

That, completely convinced that the ancient system
of the colonies could not be,restnred, the British Go-.
vernment could not enter into any stipulation binding
itself either to refuse of to delay its recognition of their.
indepen4nce.-
That thetiritish Goveznment had no..desire jo preci-
pitate•that recognitiOn, so long as-. their was any res.,
sortable chance of an accommodation with the mei.
ther country, by, which such 'a recognition might come
first fri Spain.
But that it could not wait indefinitely for that result;
that it could not consent make its recognition of the
new Statesdependent nkOn that of Spain; and that it'
wouLlAonsicia any foreign interference, by force or .4'
menace, in the dispute between Spain and the colonies,
as a motive for recognizing the latter without delay:
That the mission of Consuls to the several provinces
of Spanish America jai no nearureasure Ant the part Of,
this country : that it was one which .had, qu the Gyp-.
teary, been delayed, perhaps too long, in tunsi4V;atiOn
of -the state of Spain, afterhaving been announced to,
the Spanish Government in the mouth of December
last; as settled ; and even after a list had been,foptished
to,that,Goverment of the places to which such appoint.
its4nis Afe intended to be made;
ina.t-41104 aPPoVgnelAs ‘?rl, Alsoluto7 net nary
for the protection of British trade in those toisools• .
That ;he old priteniion of Spain, tointerdict all trade
with' thOseccountrics, Was, in thelopinion of the British
cloyernment, ohrin/ete • 40.40, „Oft' if at-,
tempted to be enforced against 'amp, it airy, 344 b tp.
god to Great Britain, clearly inapplicable. • . .
Vat xlerrnisricin to trade with the oprusish colonies
lead) couCe.cfed in Great Britain Inlhe year 1.8#4'
when the mediation of .Great Britain between *phi and
her Colonies was askedby Spain, and granted by. Great
Britain : that this mediation, indeed, was not afterwards•
eutployed, becanse Spain Changed her counselj but.
that it was not, therefore, practicable for Great Britain
to.withdraw commercial capital once embarked in Spa;
iiiah"AMer:ca, and to desist from commercial inter-
Aciticse puce .establislied.
That it had been ever since distinctly understood that
the trade was open to British subjects, and that the an-.
Cie; t coast laws of Spain were, so far as regarded them I
at least, tacitly repealed.
That, in virtue of this untterstanding, redress had been
demanded of Spain in 1822, for (among other griev-
ances) seizures of vessels for alleged infringements of
thosolaws; svhith redress the Spanish Government bound
• itAfshy a Convention (now in course Of execution) to fif.
ford...—That.Great Britain, however, had no desire to'
set up any separate right to.the free enjosment of this,
trade; .that she considered. the force of chcumstauces,
and irreversible progress of events, to have already,
determined the question of the existence ofth#l,reediam
fur all the world; burthat for !Jeri& she claimed, and
would continue to use it ; and should.auy attempt per,
made to dispute that claim, and to renew the obsolete
interdiction, such attempt roWit he best cut short by,
speedy and unqualified recognition.ofthe independence;
.ol the Spanish Americin States.
. That, with. these genetaLoPinions, and with theopecu-
. Bat claims, England could not go into.a joint deliberittion•
;vote the sUbje# of Span,ish Arriei ica, upon an equal fact-
41g whOse °Onions were less formed
upon that question, and WhOke interess w;eie less
vented in the decision of it.
That the thought it fair, therefore, to explain before.
hanil to Vaiat'degree her mind was made up, and'her
44,rppiiwico pt cpn.

•
The-Rinse de Polignac declired,
• That his'emverwilent believed it to be utterly hope.:
. kss to reduie pauish America to die state of its former
telatioit to Spaiu.