From John Jay to Diego de Gardoqui, 17 October 1788
To Diego de Gardoqui
Office for foreign Affairs 17th. Octr. 1788
Sir
I have the honor of informing you that it as Congress think ^have deemed^ it expedient in the present situation of affairs, to refer their negociations depending between ^with^ his Cath.[olic] Maj[esty] & the un States to the fœderal Government, which is to assemble in March next.1 as the Propriety of this measure is derived from the ^that^ Inconveniences which attend The dissolution of one Govt. and the establish[men]t. of another, render the Interval between them form a Period little adapted to negociations, especially in a popular Governmt. The Inconveniences which thence arise are obvious, and need not be enumerated, especially as you are well apprized that the Term of
the present Congress is nearly expired, and that the a succeeding Congress adequate to such Business, will not probably be convene during the winter—
As these Facts render the measure in Question [inde?] proper, as I am persuaded you will so represent & explain it to his catholic Majesty, as that it may be ascribed to the peculiar Situation of our aff national Governmt. & not to any desire or disposition to postpone a Business which cannot be too soon compleated it is the Interest of both Parties to have speedily & satisfactorily settled I have the honor to be with Sentiments of great Respect & Esteem Sir Your most ob. & very hble Servt
Senr Dn. Diego de Gardoqui Encargado des Negocios of his cath. majesty
Dft, NNC (EJ: 05850); C, DLC: Jefferson (EJ: 10181); LbkCs, , 4: 6–7 (EJ: 02337); DNA: PCC, item 125, 174–75 (EJ: 03741); NNC: JJ Lbk. 7.
1. See JJ’s report to Congress of 2 Sept. 1788, above. Gardoqui had already received instructions not to make a treaty until there was a stable American government in place. See also the editorial note “Negotiations with Gardoqui Reach an Impasse,” , 4: 364–78.