The recognition was their first duty, that is true, but I believe the CSA would have done the honorable thing....
I see no reason to believe that. To date they had seized whatever they wanted with no payment, they had walked away from responsibility for the debt without discussion, they were willing to go to war to acquire Sumter. If they didn't see any of those as dishonorable acts then why should we believe that they would have a sudden change of heart and pay for anything? Wouldn't an offer to do so be an admission that their earlier actions had been wrong?