Anson Jones pursued every option for Texas.

Following popular opinion, the Texas Congress wanted to join the Union, but there was no guarantee that annexation would pass the U.S. Congress. If it failed, Jones wanted to suggest independence under a British and French alliance.

The U.S. Congress approved Texas annexation, but it took almost a month for the news to reach Texas. In the meantime, Jones made a deal with England and France to negotiate peace and recognition from Mexico. Jones warned the European ministers that Texans did not want to wait, so he gave them 90 days to finish the negotiations. He also made it clear that Texas might choose annexation over the Mexican treaty even if negotiations were successful.

When the news of annexation reached Texas, Texans protested Jones and his policies. The president was accused of selling out to Britain. Wild threats were made to overthrow the government. Jones felt he was fairly giving Texans the choice of peace with Mexico and independence, or U.S. annexation and almost certain war. But the people of Texas did not want choices. They wanted annexation into the United States.

Jones received word from the British minister that Mexico had agreed to a treaty guaranteeing peace and the permanent independence of Texas. He presented the treaty to the Texas Congress. A furious Congress rejected the treaty, approved annexation to the United States, and adopted resolutions against Jones.

Source: Anson Jones: Architect of Annexation
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