Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-02-28
OUR RELATIONS WITH SPAIN
CONTINUED.

y
to the Lhdreiier de Oms. dated
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Jonuary Is, 1917.
SIR,
l have had the honor to receive
your letter of the 10th in reply t.
mine of the l4th of this month.
1t having been the invariable desire
|of the United States to settle all differ
ences with Spain on just and fair con-
|ditions it is seen with much regret,
that similar disposition is not mani
Tested on the part Of your government,
Finding by your letter, that ] had
distinctly understood the views OF
your government. as explained by yon'
i'm our late conference, and stated in
my last letter and perceiying also,
that you still adhere to those views.
which, being altogether inconsistent
with the rights of the United States,
are inadmissible /; have to repeat
that this government has no motive to
the negotiation, on the sub
jeet of boundaries.
In making this frank declaration, |
cannot avoid expressing my surprize.
that you should now find il necessar!
to refer again to yQnr government. for
Instructions on any part of this sub
iect. These differences have long
and, as far back as 1905. were
fully discussed. as you readily admit
ted, in every circumstance appertain-
ing to. or connected with them. in a
special mission to Madrid for the pur-
pose. 1t was hoped and expected, on
the restoration of the diplomatic in,
tercOurse between the two nations.
that you would have been invested
with full powers To settle them : and.
it was in accordance with your views.
when this was found not to be the case,
that the requisite authority was given
to the minister plenipotentiary Of the
United States at Madrid. 1t could
not have been doubted. as your go
had not authorized its mi
mister here to bring these controyer-
sies to a conclusion, that the ministe!
Of the United States would have bees
promptly met in his offers to effect IL
at Madrid. need not repeat to you
the great disappointment which the
President felt, when, after the lapse of
so much time, he was informed, that
an expression of regret in my letter to
you of the 10th Of June, at the delay
resulting from your want of powers,
ard from the necessity of transferring
the negotiation to Madrid, had beer
misconstrued into a desire that i'll
should be transferred again to the o.
nited States. On examining, howe
yer. the tenor of your commission, and
the communications between Mr.. Err
'ing anu Mr.. Cevallos, both Of which
seemed to contemplate prompt con-
fusion of The business here {; the idea
low brought forward in your letter.
If a further resort to your government
or other instructions, was surely thel
asst to enter into the anticipations of
his government.
1t is proper to add, that under.
TODD You to coincide in our late con-
erence. fully with me, in the scnti- |
ncnt, that any further discussion off
ubjects, which had been already sol
'ften discussed and completely ex-
lausted, would be useless, since it
'ould not be presumed that any
hanse OF opinion on any point, would
axe place on either side. Each par
y understands its rights, and has.
doubtless. made up its mind az to the
conditions it is willing to adopt. To|
hose suggested by you, as being wor-
ny the consideration of your govern
nent, this government cannot agree.
Under these circumstances, have
gain to request that you will do me
he homer to inform me, whether you
re willing to conclude a convention,
o provide indemnity for spoliations,
md the suppression of the deposite at
Sew-Orleans, as mentioned In my last
etter.
have the honor to be, with the
most perfect consideration, sir, your
cry obedient servant.
JAMES MONROE.
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