Benns: British West India Carrying-Trade 63 
of those provinces only.®^ The American Government thus 
persisted in its attempt to have American products admitted 
into the British West Indies on identical terms with similar 
products from other British possessions; and in its attempt 
to prevent an indirect trade between the United States and the 
British West Indies, thru British North American ports, in 
articles not permitted in the direct trade. 
On June 13, the American minister presented this new 
proposal to Lord Castlereagh, and as he “thought that noth- 
ing was likely to be gained by . . . leaving room for the 
possible hope that any of its essential provisions would be de- 
parted from’', he informed the latter “with candor” “that as 
it was offered, so was it to be taken” since his instructions 
would admit of no deviations unless on immaterial points,^^ 
The American proposals being offered in this spirit, it is 
not surprising perhaps that they were rejected by the British 
Government. Great Britain was willing to make some modi- 
fications in her colonial system, to grant some relaxation of 
it in favor of the United States in an anxious desire that the 
two countries might come to an understanding in regard to 
the colonial trade. But to break down that system was no 
part of her plan. That the articles offered ' by the United 
States would effect an entire subversion of the British colonial 
system was due in particular. Lord Castlereagh asserted, to 
three proposals contained therein : (1) That the ports in the 
British West Indies should be specified; (2) that the trade 
between the United States and the British North American 
colonies and with Bermuda should be confined within the same 
limits as the trade between the United States and the British 
West Indies carried on directly; (3) that the duties on arti- 
cles imported from the United States to the British West In- 
dies in American vessels should be no higher than on the same 
articles when imported from the United States in British 
vessels, or when imported even from British possessions. 
These three points, especially the third and second, formed. 
Lord Castlereagh said, insurmountable obstacles to any con- 
vention or arrangement with the United States purporting to 
embrace them.^^ Altho Lord Castlereagh’s rejection was 
“broad and decided”, he stated that it was in a spirit no other 
Am. State Papers, For. ReL, IV, 403, 404. 
^Ubid., IV, 404, 405. 
^Ubid., IV. 405. 
