From John Jay to Aranda, 10 September 1782
To Aranda
paris 10 Sep 1782
Sir
Agreable to your Exys Request1 I have now the Honor of repeating to your Exy ^in writing,^ that I am not authorized by Congress to make any Cessions of any Countries belonging to the United States, but ^& therefore^ that I [will mention?] can do nothing more respecting the Line of Propositions preposed ^mentioned^ by your Excellency than to [inquire?] and ^request^ ^wait for, &^ to follow such Instructions as Congress ^on rec’g that Information^ may think expedient proper to give me ^on that Head^ on the subject
Permit me however ^nevertheless^ to remind your Excellency that I have full au Power “to enter on ^confer^ treat, of ^agree^, and conclude upon with the Embassador or plenipotentiary of his Catholic Majesty, vested with equal powers; of and concerning a Treaty of Amity and Commerce & of Alliance,[”]2 on principles of Equality Reciprocity & mutual Advantage.
I can only regret the Reason that my Propositions ^overtures^ to his Excellency the Count de Florida ^Blanca^, who was ex officio authorized to confer with me on those such Subjects, were never answered have been fruitless It would give me ^great^ Pleasure to see this Business begun, and [the more on the?] I again take the liberty of cannot omit this opportunity of assuring your Exy of my wish & Desire to commence the necessary Conferences as soon ^enter upon it as soon^ as your Excellency may shall be ^be pleased to inform
me that you are^ authorized and find it convenient to proceed3 I have the Honor to be with great Respect and Esteem Your Exys most obt. & very most hble Servt
His Exy the Count DAranda &c &c &c
Dft, NNC (EJ: 8197). Endorsed. C, with Spanish translation, SpMaAHN: Estado, leg. 3885, exp. 1, doc. 15 (EJ: 12095). LbkCs, embedded in JJ to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 17 Nov., below, DNA: PCC, item 110, 2: 194–95 (EJ: 4238); NNC: JJ Lbk. 2; CSmH.
1. See Aranda’s Notes on Negotiations with John Jay, 19–30 Aug., above; and JJ to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 17 Nov. 1782, below.
2. See JJ’s commission as minister plenipotentiary to Spain, 29 Sept. 1779, : 697–98. Had Spain conferred equivalent powers on Aranda, it would have been the equivalent of diplomatic recognition, a step it had consistently refused to take. See the editorial note “Foreigner of Distinction,” : 1–5; and JJ to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 17 Nov. 1782, below.
3. See Aranda’s reply of 11 Sept. 1782, below.