Convention of Pardo

The Convention of Pardo was a 1739 treaty between Great Britain and Spain designed to find a solution to the issues of smuggling, the Asiento and freedom of the seas, which had strained relations between the two states for the past few decades. The treaty was agreed to try to prevent war breaking out and also known as the Treaty of Pardo or the Convention of El Pardo.

Spanish authorities had been trying to enforce a ban on foreign ships trading with Spanish colonies in the West Indies and South America, and they had arrested the crews of numerous British ships and punished some of them, such as the notable case of Robert Jenkins who had his ear cut off by Spanish Coast Guards. The issue provoked a surge of public opinion in Britain clamouring for a military solution. The Spanish were not in a position to fight at that moment and were keen to avoid war till the 1740s, when they were ready to defend their colonies against several incoming English attacks.

The British cabinet, dominated by Sir Robert Walpole and the Duke of Newcastle also wanted to maintain peace to sell slaves to the Spanish colonies. The two sides met in Pardo to discuss terms.

Delegates from both sides met at the El Pardo palace in Madrid from late 1738. By January 1739, they had drawn up a basic agreement. The British had initially demanded £200,000 in compensation but ultimately accepted just £95,000. Spain had initially demanded unlimited rights to search vessels, but it eventually agreed to territorial limits.

Britain was to pay Spain £68,000 in return for notpayment of proceeds from the Asiento. The signatories also agreed to further discussion of the boundaries of Georgia. The chief British negotiator Sir Benjamin Keene felt Britain had got a good deal from the Convention. It was signed on January 14.

...
Wikipedia