1767-Jul.: Spain and Denmark finalized a significant diplomatic treaty aimed at cutting off the movement of fugitives between their respective Caribbean terr…

1767-Jul.: Spain and Denmark finalized a significant diplomatic treaty aimed at cutting off the movement of fugitives between their respective Caribbean territories. The agreement specifically mandated the reciprocal return of enslaved people who escaped between Puerto Rico and the Danish islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. This policy reflected a shift toward inter-imperial cooperation to curb the pervasive problem of colony-to-colony flight by the enslaved. Despite these official efforts, such delimitations remained piecemeal and were frequently disrupted by the vagaries of international politics. The treaty demonstrated the mounting concern among colonial powers regarding the mobility of unauthorized seaborne travelers.