Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-04-11
lh. clay 10 III. Bron,l.
OEPARTMENT or STATE,
ItaShin Df0u D-f - lSo

taShiugtOn, Oct. -, 1925
SIR: LUinS the last summer, large French
fleet visited the American seas and the coas, of Tho
United Siatess 1t object naturally gave rise 10
much speculation. Neither here. nor through YOU
al Paris, was the Government o. The United States
made acquainted with he views of tia, of France
N sending on; so considerable an armament Tie
tSesldeAt conceIves II due to the friendly relations
which happily subsis, between the two nations
AID 70 the trankness by which he wishes all their
intercourse to be characterized that the purpose of
oi any similar movement, hereafter made in =
seaaon o. peace, should be communicated 10 this
Government. You will, therefore inform Tho
French Government OF his expectation that such =
communication will, in future, lie arcordinoIv
luade Inc reasondbleDess Off, in a time of neace
OF which fraEce shall enjoy the blesss;nss. rnusi
he quite apparent. The United States bavinp
at the present period, constantly TO maintain. in
The Gui! OF Mexico, and the coasts of C,b, and
foFto RICO, a naral force, on a service beneficial
tn III commercial naiions, it would apocar IN re
quite reasonable, hat If the commanders of .nv
American squadron, charged with The du,v of sun.
pressing piracy, should meet with those Of Frorcb
squadron, the respective objects OF both sbouIJ ba
known 10 each. Another consideration N LII
you VIII advert, ia friendly manner, is the nre.
sent condition OF the Islands of Cuba and porto
Dico' Inc views OF the Executive OF the United
s1Sates, IN regard 20 hem, have been already dis
Yfting its cooperation to bring about peace he.
tween Spain and her fosmer colonies, in s-ir:, $
great iTanShess. itwai stated 10 the Goyernrner,
that The United States could not see with indi Te
renee those Islands pasted from Spain ia anv -.
ther European Power; arc that, for ourselves. M
change was desired in THEIR present political, and
commercial condition, nor in the possessioo chit
Spain has OF them. In The same spirit and VIII,
the hope OF guarding, beforehand, against any ms
sloie difficulties on that subject, tina, NAV arise
you Will now add, that we could not conse,t IN H.
occupation Of those islands by any other I,,,aor
Power than Spain, under any Contingency ,yi,,,.,
yer CberisiiDg no designs on them ourselves ,vc
nave iaT claim 10 an unreseryed KNOWLEDGE of
the views of other great maritime Povvers !, e..
pect 10 them. IT any sensibility should be mani
tested 10 what the French Minister NAV cLoa'.
70 regard as suspicious entertained here of al.
position on the part Of France TO INDULGE nsssio
OF aggrandsement, you mar disavoyy anv such s,,s .
picions, and say that the President came, s,,
pose state Of things in which either of the o-a,t
maritime Powers Of Europe, with or vvitho,, H.
consent OF Spain, would fell itself justified 70 or
SuPy' or attempt the occupation OF Cuba or Porto
<tico, without the concurrence, or AZ l.as. H.
knowledge Of the United States Yop ro,r ~,
u me tenor OF your communication with the E'sn
Minister should seem 70 make il uecess,rv ,I,s
~ rue course VI me past summer, rtlmors reached
ln9 country, not merely ols being the design of H.,
feach heet to take possession Of the island of en-
"a out tn't had, IN tact, taken possession of
island. II the confidence in tho Cocoon ma
France entertained by that of the United STATE,
could not allow 1t to credit these runo,.. il mus,
ne admitted that they derived some colntsnanca
rom the weakness Of Spain, the intimate go
ton between that monarchy and France al 81.
general ignorance that prevailed as 10 ,he uit;r,a.
destination and object of fleet greatly de-
poItionaie, In the extent Of # armament, To anv
! 'he Ordinary purposes Of peaceful coromsroti
on are at liberty 10 communicate the subject r.
this note 10 the French Government in conisrs,,.a
~ IN wiring as you may think proper; but, in e
'her case 1t is the Presidents wish chat il stoo,,
0s done in the most conciliatory and friend msn
ner. ''''" man
want. 'N', ODe'.ie'l ser
lanes Brow, Envoy Erfyaorgjn H5rn ,,.,
.oIn''S!er Pienipotenfayy IT, s. 10 F,oy,,
EtiSocy 81 Letter, 10. 10, from Mr.. ErereD
Mn,feT to Spain, 70 tie scrc.Grg Of f'G siots