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Freuclt Settlement and Spain's Renewed Interest
faction of the troops stationed at that post, and the decision of the viceroy to defer all action against the French until he obtained further orders from the king. 28 After carefully weighing all the circumstances the Junta drew up a series of recommendations. With characteristic Spanish courtesy it advised that the king of France should be thanked for what he had done to preserve the integrity of the dominions of Spain, for the extension of the Catholic faith, and for his timely warning of the designs of the English-ignoring, as it did, that the French had used the English flag to cover their own designs; it recommended that Pen- sacola should be maintained at all costs because of its strategic position; that the governors of New Spain, Florida, Havana and Campeche be ordered to give all possible aid to the garrison; that the offer of coopera- tion on the part of the French navy to check the English be welcomed; and lastly, that the king of France be asked to instruct his officers in the settlements on the Mississippi River and adjacent territory to secure com- missions from the Spanish government, in order that the viceroy of New Spain might be able to give them the necessary assistance in the per- formance of their duty. 29 Although courteous, the ]mita de Guerra was firm in its recommenda- tions to safeguard what it considered the integrity of the Spanish domin- ions against the encroachments of foreign powers. But the.se were not accepted without one dissenting vote. The Count of Hernan Nunez upbraided the Junta for its impractical recommendations with unaccus- tomed frankness and severity. He discussed at great length the impos- sibility of carrying out the suggestions made, and emphatically declared that it was useless to attempt the impossible. "Seldom, if ever, had the dignified ltmta listened to words of such uncompromising frankness," declares an able historian. 30 He pointed out that if Spain was sincere in her desire to preserve and extend the Catholic faith, she should accept the offer of the French king instead of trying to deceive herself into believing that by the mere promulgation of royal decrees fleets could be built, Pensacola colonized, and other fortifications constructed. 31 2 BPara despachar dos cartas de Dn. Andres de Arriola sobre Vahia de Pensacola y Poblazion de franceses en aquella costa. A. G. I., Audicncia de 11/exico, (Dunn Transcripts). 29 Consulta de la Junta de Guerra, June 6, 1701, A. G. I., A11die11cia de Afexico, 61-6-35, (Dunn Transcripts). JODunn, op. cit., 209. 31 Consulta de la Junta de Guerra, June 6, 1701, A. G. I., Audie11cia de Mexico, 61-6-35 (Dunn Transcripts).
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