Sagunto sends a delegation to Rome (218)
The war had not yet begun with Sagunto; but already disputes, germs of war, were caused to him with his neighbors especially with the Turdétans. The very author of the dispute presented himself as arbitrator; it was clear that force, and not right, would prevail:the Saguntines then sent a deputation to Rome to ask for help against the enemy with whom they saw themselves threatened. Publius Cornelius Scipio and Tiberius Sempronius Longus were consuls. The deputation heard in the senate, the affair put under deliberation, it was decided to send deputies to Spain to obtain information on the situation of the allies:in the event that their cause appeared just, the ambassadors were to summon Hannibal to no longer disturb the Saguntines, allies of Rome; then go to Africa, to carry to Carthage the complaints of the allies of Rome. No sooner had the deputation decreed than left when the news of the siege of Saguntum was received sooner than expected. The matter was then again referred to the senate. Some assigned Spain and Africa as departments to the consuls, and proposed to fight both on land and at sea, others directed all the forces in Spain against Hannibal; others finally asked that less haste be put into a matter of this importance, and that the return of the deputation sent to Spain should be awaited. This opinion, which appeared to be the wisest, prevailed:the departure of the deputies Publius Valérius Flaccus and Quintus Baebius Tamphilus was pressed; they had orders to go to Hannibal at Sagunto, to go to Carthage, if he refused to raise the siege, and even to demand that Hannibal be handed over to them in reparation for the breach of the treaty.