write:Secretaryof State Buchanan told Trist that he had leeway in closing theaccord but that the Californias (upper and lower) New Mexico andthe Texas boundary were not negotiable. Be

in April 1847 Polk sent Undersecretary of State andChief Clerk Nicholas P. Trist to Mexico with a dra treaty. Secretaryof State Buchanan told Trist that he had leeway in closing theaccord
but that the Californias (upper and lower)
New Mexico
andthe Texas boundary were not negotiable. Because of the continuedfighting and the reluctance of the Mexican government to appearweak
Trist did not make contact with Mexican authorities untilJune. Negotiations began on September 1
lasted five days
and thenbroke down because Polk would not compromise on the Rio Grandeboundary and Santa Anna would cede only the area north ofMonterey
California
to the United States. He would not part withany of New Mexico.Mexican politicians published a lengthy letter arguing forcontinuing the war and stressing their reluctance to endorse anyagreement that would cede national territory. Hearing about theletter
Polk decided that Trist should be recalled
since Mexico wouldnegotiate only if the terms were different. Trist became the Mexicangovernment’s only hope for resolution
and thus he gained the upperhand in the negotiations. He held fast to the United States’ territorial