Brooks: Diplomacy and the Bordrlasds


London, and Washington, however, for none of the administrations
wanted war. No suggestion of starting one appears in the outlines
of Spanish policies drawn up by Heredia, nor was such a move
seriously considered by the Consejo.
 Still, Spain realized the advantage which might be gained from
the active assistance of the greatest naval Power, especially since
that country had widespread commercial interests in the Americas.
She looked to England, therefore, for mediation, if not positive
support, in three controversies: her colonial rebellions, her dispute
with Portugal, and the negotiation with the United States.
 Volumes of correspondence went back and forth all over Europe
and America concerning the first problem, the colonies." England
was the controlling Power throughout. During the Napoleonic
Wars, the Spanish Regency had declined the mediation offer of
England because the latter Power proposed to make too great con-
cessions to the colonies. Later, Ferdinand caused delay by debating
endlessly over foreign intervention. He considered strongly the
plan of Russia for a general mediation of the Powers, in connection
with the aims of the Holy Alliance. Disagreement between Eng-
land and Spain on the extent of political and economic privileges
to be given the colonials frustrated this plan. But the issue re-
mained a live one throughout the period covered by this study. It
indirectly influenced the Adams-Onis negotiations inasmuch as the
threat of European intervention in Hispanic America was the
greatest obstacle to recognition of the insurgents by the United
States. Government caution both in this country and in England
was constantly attacked by blatant popular sympathy for the
colonials.
 Portugal, Britain's traditional ally, presented the second prob-
lem on which Spain sought English aid. The Braganza court, then
at Rio de Janeiro, was naturally intimately interested in the prog-
ress of the Spanish colonial revolutions. Carlota, wife of King Joio
VI of Portugal and sister of Ferdinand VII, was anxious to as-
sume the latter's authority over Spain's colonies while he was in
captivity. Accordingly, Brazil had begun an expansionist program
by the seizure of the Spanish colony of the Banda Oriental (now
the republic of Uruguay). Despite the recent marriages of Ferdi-
nand and his brother Charles with their nieces, the princesses of
Portugal, little cordiality existed between the two courts. Spain