The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914 Page: 181
454 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Louisiana-Texas Frontier
ple, was largely responsible for the apparent obstinacy of the Span-
ish government. Afterward he wrote Godoy, then at Madrid, con-
cerning his last interview with Cevallos, although the other probably
already knew of this from his own subordinates. Monroe per-
ceived a reasonable excuse for answering the Spaniard's note in
the fact that in his communication of April 13th, Cevallos had
complained of some reflections on his character by the Americans
and requested an explanation. A refusal to answer would imply
that they lacked diplomatic courtesy, and while explaining this
point they could take advantage of the occasion to express in
greater detail their views on the western boundary. This action
might favor their desire to obtain the definite proposals from Ceval-
los, for which they had thus far vainly sought.
In addition to the above reason for prolonging the negotiation,
Monroe did not forget possible French interests. He knew that that
government would not support him upon the other points at issue,
but in view of its silence concerning the western boundary, he
thought there could be no impropriety in the United States insist-
ing upon its assumed rights. If the honor of France were un-
touched that nation might acquisce in a final adjustment that would
be unfavorable to Spain. If Talleyrand had any personal motive in
the position that he assumed, he believed that it concerned those
points upon which he had already expressed himself; so Spain
might lose French support upon the western boundary and be
compelled to yield elsewhere to regain its advantage. This would
be a just punishment for Cevallos, in view of the course he had pur-
sued in the negotiation.29 Despite the faint hope suggested by this
reasoning, Monroe reported to Armstrong that he saw little prospect
for success at Aranjuez, for Spain was still wedded to the policy of
Charles V, while her ally, France, hoped to convert the whole trans-
action into a species of jobbery.30 Yet the European situation did
not favor a rupture in the negotiation, so Monroe and his colleague
determined to answer Cevallos's memoir on the western boundary.
In the note which they submitted to him on April 20, they laid
down three general principles for determining the limits of Euro-
pean colonies. In this they simply followed the lead of Jefferson.
By the first of these principles the possession of a portion of un-"9iQpanish Despatches, VIII.
olbid., VIII.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914, periodical, 1914; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101061/m1/185/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.