[Cheburashka]

The French wanted a weak United States, one that would be a permanent French client. Under their proposal the land that would become the Northwest Territory would have been left in British hands. Mississippi, Alabama, the western half of Tennessee and the western tip of Kentucky would go to Spain. The U.S. would get the eastern half of Tennessee, and most of Kentucky, but not all the way to the Mississippi River.

The result would have been a U.S. with a built-in permanent hostility towards Britain and the desire to acquire the land north of the Ohio, but too weak to go to war without French aid. A dependent country that would always be hostile to Britain, and the French could use it as an ally when France wanted war with Britain, but that would be forced to make peace when France wanted to make peace.

[Pharmboy]

Thanks for your addition. From the article and your post, it sounds like Old Ben knew that info also.