Confederate Purchasing Operations Abroad

ALTHOUGH excellent volumes have been written on the diplomacy of the Confederacy and on blockade running during the war between the States, they do not tell the entire story of the Confederacy's trade relations. The present study represents an attempt not only to throw addi¬tional light on the Confederacy's efforts to obtain supplies from European countries and Mexico, but also to clarify and possibly correct vague impressions relative to these efforts. Emphasis is placed on the development of the original and imperfect plan of operation abroad into a new plan which compares favorably with any achievement of the Con-federate Government. This new plan involved centraliza¬tion and rigid governmental control of the purchasing agents, of the shipment of cotton, of finance and blockade running. This policy was developed during the last year of the war in spite of the protests of a constituency steeped in the doctrine of State Rights. The New Plan was com-mented on with favor in European financial circles and the way cleared for the South to negotiate for a large foreign loan. Records of the secret negotiations for this loan reveal additional information on the so called "Kenner Mission." Although it is generally known that in 1865, Duncan F. Kenner, of Louisiana, was given unlimited authority to ap-proach England and France on the question of emancipation in return for recognition, the fact has been overlooked that he had another mission of great importance. He was authorized by Congress to complete the negotiations for the anticipated loan. The available records do not indicate whether or not the two missions were definitely related. This study raises the unanswerable question-would the war have ended in Southern defeat if the New Plan had been adopted one year earlier?