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Show PAPERS KNOWN AS X Y Z DISPATCHES In 1707 strained relations existed between the United States and the young French republic. The United States, desiring to repair the friendship friend-ship between the two countries which had been of such importance during the American Revolution, sent three commissioners to France U effect an understanding. The government of France the Directory was pressed for funds, and the commissioners were given to understand that the United States could have the friendship friend-ship of France only upon terms which amounted to an international bribe; that otherwise war might be expected as the result of affronts the French felt they had received at the hands of the United States. The American commissioners sent back to their government a series of dispatches describing their reception and the French proposals. President Adams, after seeing these dispatches, sent word to congress that no agree- ment with France was in sight, and that no terms "compatible with the safety, the honor, or the essential interests in-terests of the nation" could be obtained. ob-tained. Copies of the dispatches were forwarded to congress at its request. In the copies, the letters X, Y and Z were diplomatically substituted for the names of three French agents who had presented the offensive proposals. pro-posals. Hence the papers were called the X Y Z correspondence. The revelations rev-elations contained in the dispatches caused a great sensation, and preparations prep-arations were begun for war with France. Some conflict, indeed, did break out upon the sea. Later, however, how-ever, a satisfactory relationship was established between the two countries. |