Grenadine Confederation
Statement by Juan Antonio Pardo, Foreign Minister
"Today we refer to the matter of an European war brought to the Americas, one of the few ever since we have been taken our own, separated paths. And to the requests made by the Empire of Brazil, we must say we refuse to ban the Mexican republic from the Pan-American Conference in Panamá. Allow me to state why.
We have to take into account Mexico's hand has been forced by intervention and if they were to refuse Britain's demands, they would also fall into a position where, after the war, Britain and France could have found reasons to excercise their right, given that Mexico was bound by treaty and debt to repay their obligations in some way. To have shoved away the state of Mexico from participating in regional diplomacy and alienating them from the conference would be ignoring their mere existence and turning away from a nation in need. Of course, this could be stopped by not allowing foreign intervention into the Americas by any European power -or, the Monroe Doctrine- and this principle actually being enforced by American nations. But this is a matter for another time.
Another point to take into account is the strategic situation the Netherlands is suffering; although Mexico has entered war against a nation vastly superior, in military power to the Mexican forces, they are tied up and surrounded within the European continent. The ports that are found in the Caribbean sea and the Mexican routes towards these ports would be unreachable by a significant Dutch force, let alone from other nations. Besides, given the state of the Guyanas under British control, any naval combat between the Mexicans and the Dutch would be restrained to the Western Caribbean, the point of access for Mexico's navy; the Mexicans can easily resupply in the British and French colonies without affecting commercial relations between Brazil and any other European nations, if, and only if, Netherlands is still blockaded.
A final point to take into account, is an alliance between American and European states something to be rejected? We have to consider that each of the actors in international relations is sovereign and can decide over their fate and the ties the establish with each other. We can't force the Mexicans to break an alliance previously established by law, and if they wish to follow it, they might. The world is not contained within a square nor can nations stay restrained to satisfy their needs, besides, European dominions in the Americas force us to establish relations with them, whether we like it or not. Banning Mexico from any Conferences in the Americas on the grounds of an alliance with an European nation would be a violation of their sovereignty and independence, an ideal which all of us hold dear. They had the choice not to follow the treaty and they prefered conflict, through their own will. It'd also hold back cooperation within the American nations; many small nations reliant on trade or seeking self-determination while not breaking relationships with their ruler -the Dominican Republic is a sad example- would have to make a choice: the Americans or the Europeans. And many nations aren't able to choose between these parties without crippling themselves.
However, there is a risk. If the Europeans establish combat in the American continent and get involved nations that stray from war, what are we to do? We are not involved in any matters regarding their lands and we have no reasons to be, not yet. For that reason, we have to ask for the British, French and Mexican forces, along with forces involved in this war, to limit their operations on the Western Hempishpere in order to avoid compromising trade. We are neutral in this matter and we don't wish to be involved in it, don't bring us into the fighting ring."
