The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914 Page: 22
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22 The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
ing very little territory west of the Mississippi, and in other ways
favored the Spanish position in regard to the western limits.37
Robin stated that the Arroyo Hondo (he calls it "le Grand Ruis-
seau") is the stream that the Spaniards have always scrupulously
regarded as the western limit of Louisiana. Between this stream
and the Red lay the only territory that France ever occupied on
the latter river. Elsewhere the banks of the Red, and of the
Mississippi below its mouth, belong to Spain. He also declared
that France once possessed a right to that portion of the Arkansas
controlled by Tonty's former post, and to the mouth of the Mis-
souri; but the United States could claim nothing beyond these re-
stricted areas. In this way he more than emphasized the Spanish
claim east of the Sabine. He followed contemporary Spanish
frontier officials in favoring the Mississippi as the ultimate bound-
ary. Casa Calvo and his engineer, Martinez, evidently used
Robin's suggestions in their later reports to Cevallos, and in addi-
tion incorporated certain observations drawn from the previous
experience of Athanacio de Mezieres. They asserted the right of
Spain to the watershed between the Calcasieu and Mermentou and
to the "Bayou des Lauriers." If the Americans were ready to begin
the survey in a short time, they should insist upon going no further
west than the Sabine. The American claim to the Bravo, they
stated, included not only a large part of the Interior Provinces,.
but also a possible extension to the Pacific. Against such pre-
tensions they must make a resolute stand.38
IT. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BORDER RELATIONS WITH THE
SPANIARDS
The leisurely discussion at diplomatic centers of the boundaries
of Louisiana with a view to their final determination promised to
continue for an indefinite period. Meanwhile the actual solution
was being worked out on the very frontiers in dispute. The area
of occupation was a more important factor than diplomatic skill,
even when aided by unlimited archival stores. For more than
"Cox, Early Exploration of Louisiana, 62, 63. Robin, C. C., Voyages
dans L'Interieur de Louisiana, etc., III, 141 et seq.
38Robertson, Nos. 4985 and 4993. These references are to transcripts in
the collections of the Missouri Historical Society, for the use of which I
am indebted to the courtesy of Judge Walter B. Douglas.
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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/m1/26/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.