The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914 Page: 184
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The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
lomat wrote to Madison that he could "give no idea of the vexation
of the whole affair."'82
Despite the delay and vexation that they had so far vainly ex-
perienced the Americans determined to make one more effort to
secure adjustment. Nearly three weeks had passed with no formal
reply from Cevallos to their note of April 20, when on May 9,
Monroe requested an interview for the purpose of submitting final
propositions. It is true he was further weakening his position by
offering to submit new terms before the previous ones were defin-
itely rejected, but Monroe believed this was the only course to take.
If his propositions were accepted a treaty would follow; if rejected,
the negotiation would be at an end.
On May 11th, according to appointment, he called to present
these propositions. They involved the submission of part of the
American commercial claims to arbitration and the relinquishment
of others and of their claim to West Florida, provided that that
territory and the rest of the Floridas should be ceded to them.
Furthermore, the Americans agreed to make the Colorado the
western boundary, with or without a strip of neutral territory, as
Spain preferred. Cevallos quickly replied that there was no recom-
pense for Spain in these proposals. That power would never pay a
sou on the commercial spoliations, did not acknowledge that the
United States had any claim whatever to West Florida, and did not
regard the proposed western limit as a concession. Monroe had not
Intended to do more than submit his propositions without comment,
but this "high tone and pre-emptory manner" forced him to, reply
with equal spirit. The concession that he offered in the West, he
told Cevallos, was worth more than the whole territory east of the
Mississippi. The American people would never relinquish a foot
of land east of the Bravo, except for some equivalent. Our com-
mercial claims must be settled in some way and the method pro-
posed was the most honorable for Spain. But the obdurate Cevallos
simply repeated his previous statements. Monroe then asked him if
that was the answer of his government; because, if so, the negotia-
tion was at an end. Cavellos told him to put his propositions into
writing and he would then give him an answer. Full of foreboding,
the Americans did so on the following day, and also sent copies to2Spanish Despatohes, VIII.
184
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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/m1/188/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.