Since the three
ministers of the United States, sent to France by John Adams, were
contacted by three French agents, nicknamed X, Y and Z, who suggested
they bribe with $ 250,000 to the foreign minister of France, and also
give $ 10,000,000 to France as an '' advance ''
for the future negotiations, this was cause of great indignation and
anger on the part of the Americans when the plans of the French agents
were discovered and exposed to the public opinion. Nearly
a war between France and the United States took place, since even the
naval forces of both countries were mobilized, but never reached a real
confrontation.
