"France and Spain Invade England - Almost" Topic
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Tango01 | 10 Mar 2020 10:33 p.m. PST |
"On February 6, 1778, France signed two treaties with the United States, one of Amity and Commerce, the other, a defensive Alliance.[1] In them, France recognized the absolute sovereignty and independence of the United States. On March 10, the Foreign Minister of France, the comte de Vergennes, sent a dispatch that included a copy of the treaties to the Marquis de Noailles, the French Ambassador to the Court of St. James. He was directed to deliver the copy to the Court. The result was on March 17, 1778, England declared war on France.[2] The thrones of King Louis XVI of France and King Charles III of Spain were branches of the same treethe House of Bourbon; in fact, King Charles was King Louis' uncle. Through the Pacte de Famille of 1761, it was agreed in article four that "whoever attacks one crown, attacks the other."[3] It was this Pacte that led Vergennes to believe that Spain would come to the aid of France if attacked by England. The Prime Minister of Spain, José Moņino, the Count of Floridablanca, however, was hesitant to involve Spain in France's business. Spain had just ended a war with Portugal, her treasury was depleted, her colonies were unprotected by sea which made them vulnerable to the powerful British navy, and her government was never informed prior to the announcement that France had been negotiating the two treaties with the United States. It was not long, though, before Floridablanca saw the situation as an opportunity. He made it known to Vergennes that Spain might consider an "enterprise worthy of the two powers" if it was in Spain's interest.[4] On November 20, Floridablanca asked Vergennes: what was the plan he was considering if the two countries combined forces; what concessions could Spain expect for her participation; and how would Spain be guaranteed the concessions before any peace agreement was sought?[5] Due to ill health, Vergennes was not able to respond to Floridablanca's questions until December 24 when he sent a draft of the general plan and invoked the Pacte de Famille as sufficient promise that France would not make a separate peace…" Main page link Amicalement Armand |
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