Folio 142: Stormont to Weymouth. His talks with Maurepas and Vergennes covered little...

Folio 142: Stormont to Weymouth. His talks with Maurepas and Vergennes covered little that was new. With Maurepas he discussed Grantham's reports and Spain's attitude. Vergennes had written a `mémoire raisonné' to Aranda showing the soundness of France's policy, the imprudence of measures proposed by Spain and the sincerity of Britain. Stormont then talked with Vergennes, who said Spain distrusted Britain and would take preventive measures, which might seem warlike. Stormont had suggested that Florida Blanca's fears were not real but an excuse for the preventive measures, since he secretly wanted war, however Vergennes said he was a lover of peace. Vergennes said that France and Spain realised that Britain must send ships of the line to the West Indies, if France and Spain did so but Britain must accept that France must take her own precautions, out of prudence. Stormont said Britain had the added reason of her `grand engagement' in North America.

Date and place: 1777 Apr 29 Paris.