STATEMENT BY U.S. PRESIDENT JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

STATEMENT BY U.S. PRESIDENT JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

June 15, 1828

The French monarch Charles X has regrettably, despite the long and prosperous alliance between our nations, ordered the removal of our merchants in certain provinces of Gran Colombia. We insist that Simon Bolivar act immediately to suppress this. If Simon Bolivar and the Ocana Convention does not act immediately to halt the ongoing French colonisation of certain of their provinces, we will hold this to constitute a violation of the policy set by my predecessor James Monroe. 

We will take immediate military and economic action to contain the French if all troops of the French military are not pulled out, and are not afraid to affirm our commitment to the sovereignty of the Americas. We recognise Mr Bolivar as a friend of the Americas - and a supporter of the policy we have set.. We suggest he follows it. We insist that trading rights be opened up to all, including Americans, and on an equal and free footing. 

Let us make peace happen. We want to use diplomatic means where possible, but will not hesitate to protect the sovereignty of the Americas.