124 University of California Publications in History

tion that the United States had no legitimate claim to damages for
the spoliations by French cruisers, on the ground that they had
been settled in the Franco-American Convention of 1800; a decla-
ration to the United States that neither West Florida nor Texas
beyond the "Colorado river near Natchitoches" was part of the
Louisiana Purchase; and instructions to the French minister at
Washington to aid Onls in the conclusion of a favorable treaty.
 FRECH CONDITION
Richelieu replied to Fernan N6iiez by pleading a lack of detailed
and legal information regarding the French spoliations, and re-
iterating that his government did not hold itself responsible for
the acts of the Napoleonic regime." According to FernAn Nfiez'
account, Richelieu considered that the United States had settled
that debt with the same French government which had contracted
it, and therefore that it should be considered extinct. He said that
he did not know whether or not Spain might be liable for any
"special obligations." Therefore he could not make such a declara-
tion as FernAn Nfiiez asked, a declaration which would completely
clear Spain. In other words, Richelieu tried to free France from
responsibility, but would not undertake to do the same for France's
neighbor.
 With respect to the territorial questions, Richelieu said that the
 French government would be glad to make the declarations de-
 sired whenever the King of Spain so wished. The French foreign
 minister in a letter to Hyde de Neuville written shortly before"
 had again stated his position that West Florida should be excluded
 from Louisiana. It does not appear, though, that any specific decla-
 ration was ever made to the United States on the western limit.
 Hyde de Neuville's desire to promote peace at any cost dissuaded
 him from making any firm declarations opposing the United States'
 claims
 In his reply to FernAn Nifiez, Richelieu stated that Hyde de
 Neuville's original instructions would be renewed, authorizing him
 to "act in the rl1e of conciliator, the only one which the Minister
 of a Power friendly to both the two countries can be called upon
 to fulfill.""
 The Spaniards, however, were disappointed. In a report to the
 Consejo de Estado, Pizarro spoke of the French evasion of responsi-