1791-Aug.-08: Henry Dundas, the British Secretary of State, wrote to Lord Effingham in Jamaica concerning the legal status of runaway slaves who had fled to …

1791-Aug.-08: Henry Dundas, the British Secretary of State, wrote to Lord Effingham in Jamaica concerning the legal status of runaway slaves who had fled to Cuba. The British government sought to pressure the Spanish into a formal convention for the return of such “property,” arguing that the current sanctuary policy was a threat to regional stability. Dundas emphasized that the lack of a reciprocal agreement encouraged Jamaican slaves to believe they could find freedom by crossing the water. This diplomatic push was part of a broader strategy to secure the borders of the British slave system. However, the Spanish remained reluctant to fully cooperate, seeing the runaways as a potential military asset.