Brooks: Diplomacy and the Borderladsr


heated controversy looming over Missouri's admission, with all
Europe committed to peace and the United States to a policy of
friendship with England, with the outcome of the Spanish colonial
revolts uncertain, and a great expedition still heralded from
Cadiz, well might the administration measure cautiously its diplo-
matic strides.
 Adams was offended by the objections to his treaty. In Novem-
ber, 1819, he advised the President not to wait for the Spanish
negotiator but explicitly to order the occupation of the Floridas
by a large enough force to take it over peacefully, as an assertion
of a right rather than a hostility. When the negotiator came,
Adams thought that he should refuse to reopen the negotiation
and should demand not only ratification but damages for the
delay." Monroe at first concurred.
 Throughout the discussions of ensuing weeks Adams argued for
his theory of the eventual identical extent of the United States and
North America, maintaining that it was inevitable that this coun-
try should expand. Butin consideration of the peaceful dispositions
of England, France, and Russia, and upon the urgent behest of
Hyde de Neuville, he retracted to the extent of recommending a
conditional clause on the seizure of the Floridas. The President
agreed after a long dispute, in which Crawford obstructed Adams'
program, simply, as the latter believed, out of hostility."
 The message, as finally delivered, after recounting the justice of
the treaty and the events since its signature (being accompanied
by substantiating documents), recommended that Congress pass a
law for the occupation of the Floridas, contingent upon the success
or failure of the mission of General Vives in settling the matter."
Monroe emphasized the justice of immediate execution of the
treaty, but asked deference to courtesy among nations, saying
there would be little loss from a slight delay. His belief that the
delay would be short was substantiated by the knowledge that
England, France, and Russia had declined to back the Spanish
policy and had urged agreement. Congress was willing to wait, and
took no action.
 Vives finally arrived in April, 1820. His efforts hardly need de-
tailed narration. He simply expounded the policies previously de-
clared in the councils of the Spanish government. This naturally
was futile. In a note of April 14 he offered Spanish ratification on
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