Governor Moral’s Defense Diplomacy Arredondo’s report removed all doubts concerning Moral’s precarious position. As governor Moral was responsible for the defense of the colony, but measures he recommended for strengthening the garrison or bolstering the fortifications received little attention. Despite his constant please to his superiors in Cuba, Spain, and New Spain, the arrival of 100 Cuban grenadiers in 1736 was the only help he obtained. Moral therefore resorted to diplomacy to protect his colony. By means of a negotiated settlement with the English, Moral evidently hoped to gain time to strengthen his forces and his defenses enough to throw back impending enemy assaults. (Tepaske GSF)