The Pardo Convention had met with a…
October 1739 CE
The Pardo Convention had met with a very unfavorable reception when it was presented in London.
Many of the merchant captains are extremely unhappy that the British compensation claim had been more than halved, while the South Sea Company are concerned by the agreement allowing the Spanish limited rights to search British ships.
The situation had within months, tturned sharply towards war, and the Convention has grown increasingly fragile.
As a result of the Jenkins incident and petitions from West India merchants, the opposition in Parliament on March 28 had voted (two hundred and fifty-seven "For" and two hundred and nine "Against") to ask the King to seek redress from Spain.
All diplomatic efforts having been exhausted by summer of 1739, King George II had agreed, on July 10, to direct the Admiralty Board to initiate maritime reprisals against Spain.
Walpole gives in to the pressure and approves the sending of troops under Vice Admiral Edward Vernon to the West Indies to attack Spanish ships and "possessions", and the sending of a squadron to Gibraltar under Admiral Haddock, causing an immediate Spanish reaction.
Spain asks for financial compensation, which leads to the British demand to annul the "Visitation Right" agreed to in 1729 in the Treaty of Seville.
King Philip V of Spain, in reaction, annuls the "Asiento Right" and has all British ships in Spanish harbors confiscated.
Britain had on August 14 recalled its ambassador to Spain, and on October 23, 1739, officially declares war, formally beginning the War of Jenkins' Ear.
France remains neutral despite the Pacte de Famille.
Walpole is deeply reluctant to declare war and reportedly remarked of the jubilation in Britain "they are ringing their bells, soon they will be wringing their hands". (Pearce, Edward. The Great Man: Sir Robert Walpole p.402-03. Pimlico, 2008.)