297. ALLIANCE, Coercion and.—
The
British ministers equivocate on every proposal
of a treaty of commerce * * * unless, indeed,
we would agree to make it a treaty of
alliance as well as commerce, so as to undermine
our obligations with France. This
method of stripping that rival nation of its alliances,
they tried successfully with Holland,
endeavored at it with Spain, and have plainly
and repeatedly suggested to us. For this they
would probably relax some of the rigors they
exercise against our commerce.—
Official Report. Washington ed. vii, 518.
(Dec. 1790)
