Who is the X Y Z Affair?

this is not the kind question you ask with "who" more of a "what". President Adams tried to smooth out connections between the U.S. and France by discussing a treaty to protect U.S. shipping (which had been preyed upon by French). When the diplomats had arrived, the French foreign minister would not speak with them directly. instead the minister sent 3 strange agents ( aliases X,Y,and Z) to pay the president a visit and tell hime the minister would only speak with him if a bribe of 250,000 dollars. Adams explained everything to Congress telling them the peace-seeking mission failed. Congress immediatley called for war.

X,Y,and Z were never revealed