Existing comment:
"We must either abandon America to its own devices or courageously and effectively come to its side."
-- Comte de Vergennes, 1777
* Despite Saratoga, America likely to lose the war
* Reunited British empire would be a threat to French sugar colonies in Caribbean
* Only French-American alliance could prevent this danger; treaty signed February 1778
* Spain still had treasure fleet at sea, could not yet risk war with Britain |