Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-03-21
The Secretary of State to Mr.. Loundrs.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
2tSt December ISIO

,y,u. 2lst December, 1919.
William Lowndes, Esq Chairman
OF the committee of Foreign Relations
Sif: IN answer TO the questions contained
III Sour letter of the 10th instant, have the
honor 10 state, for the information ofthe com.
mittee,
LIST. That information has been received Inv
the Government of the United States, thouph
not through direct chanpe, nor I'm authentic
form, that another motive besides those alieg~
eh III the letter OF The Duke of San Ferna-
40 10 MT Forsyth, did operate npon the Span
ish cabinet, TO induce the Withholding OF The
TatIhcdiiou OF the Ieaty, namely The apprehen-
sion that the rdtihcation would be immedia
~ ioioweu ny the recognition by the United
States OF the independence of one or more of
the South American provinces IL ha, been
suggested, that probably the most important
OF the explanations which the Minister To he
sent by Spain, will he instructed TO ask, will
CONSIST OF AN explicit deGIaIa alton of the in
tentIOns of this Government i'm that resnect
There is Teason also TO believe, tia, The inlDu-
nIty with which privateets fitteu out manned
ahd ofnceTed, in one or more of our ports have
committees hoSiilities upon the Spanish com.
meIces viii be alleged among the reasons for
delay, aud perhaps some pledge NAV be Ie-
CURED OF the ettectnd execution against these
piac'ces, OF laws, which appear to exist in The
Statut. Book.
1t may be proper tn remark that, during the
negotiation OF the Florida treaty repeated aud
very earnest efforts were made both nv AR
Pizarro. al Madrid, aud by MIR Onis here. To
States either pO,itIye stipulation or a tacit
promise, that The Uuited states would not re-
CO&nise any ottbe South American revolution
airy governments and that the Spanish nego.
cldlois we're distinctly and explicitly informed
that thus Government wonld not assent IN any
SuCtI engagement, either express or i,uuIied
Z. by all the intOTmatiop which has been
obtained OF The pTospe tive views of the French
and Russian governments. IN relation to the
course which u Was by them thou,ht urobabIs
would be pursued BY the United States il is
apparent tllat they strongly apprehepded the
Immediate fOTCble occupation Of Florida bv
tie u. State, Oh the Generalization bS Spaln
of the treaty, within the simulated time
FfaHCc aud Russia both have most eatuastIv
dissuaded vs. from that course, not bv any veg-
ulaI Official communication bnt by informal
iilDidly advice deprecatiug immediate hos
iihty, on account OF its tendency TO kiud,e a
general war, which tnty tear would he the
consequence Of "a war between the United
Stats and Spain. IL was alleged that in the
~ sen STATE at our controversy with Spau.
tue opinion Of all Europe or the pont al
issue was ~ our favor aud agaissi her,.
That by eNsrCisinc patience lille iong-
e.. 10y waiting at feast 10 hrdr The Minister
WHO WAS announced as coming 10 give aud
receive eNpiauatiVns, we COnd not fad of
oO'dniiug uitinatfl, w'il'Cut resort TO force,
tie rieh, % winch il WaS admitted we
= ere entitled. But that prccipilaip measures
oi VIOLENCE might not "uy provoke Spain 10
war, but would chuuee the state of the Cues-
uoh beiNePH US would exhibit rs 10 the
world az the dggTeSSOtS, ahd would udSpO.e
against rs tiiose now tiie most decided 10 oar
favor.
/, Is not expected that in tie event ofa
war with Spain any Eurorcan pow ~ will
openly take part init dgainsi the United
states ; bat there is 10 doubt that the prtnci-
pal reliance Of Spain will he npUn ~, e.nrloy
ment OF riivateers "a France aud ENGLAND. as
wet as ~ The Fast aud West india seas
aud nrVn guI own coast, aader TIE Spanish