Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Cabinet Opinion on Relations with Spain and Great Britain, 20 June 1793

Cabinet Opinion on Relations with
Spain and Great Britain

June 20. 1793.

At a meeting this day of the heads of departments at the President’s on summons from him, a letter from Messrs. Viar and Jaudenes dated June 18. and addressed to the Secretary of state, was read: whereupon it is the opinion that a full detail of the proceedings of the US. with respect to the Southern Indians, and the Spaniards be prepared, and a justification as to the particular matters charged in the said letter, that this be sent with all the necessary documents to our Commissioners at the court of Madrid with instructions to them to communicate the same to the court of Madrid, leaving to them a discretion to change expressions in it which to them may appear likely to give offence in the circumstances under which things may be at the time of their receiving it, and that a copy be sent to Mr. Pinckney for his information, and to make such use of the matter it contains as to him shall seem expedient: that an answer be written to Messrs. Viar and Jaudenes, informing them that we shall convey our sentiments on the subject to their court through our commissioners at Madrid, and letting them see that we are not insensible of the stile and manner of their communications.

A draught of a letter from the Secretary of state to Mr. Hammond asking when an answer to his letter of May 29. 1792. might be expected, was read and approved.

Th: Jefferson
A Hamilton
H Knox

MS (DLC: Washington Papers); in TJ’s hand, signed by TJ, Hamilton, and Knox; written on verso of a sheet bearing Cabinet Opinion on French Privateers, 17 June 1793. FC (DLC); entirely in TJ’s hand, with names of signatories and some words abbreviated; written on verso of a sheet bearing Cabinet Opinion on French Privateers, 17 June 1793. Entry in SJPL: “[Notes of a meeting at the Pres’s.] on Viar & Jaudenes’s lre—on Th:J’s to Hammond.”

For the notification to our commissioners, see TJ to William Carmichael and William Short, 30 June 1793, and enclosures listed there. A copy was sent in TJ to Thomas Pinckney, 11 Sep. 1793. TJ’s answer to Viar and Jaudenes is dated 11 July 1793. His letter to Mr. Hammond is printed above under 19 June 1793.

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