After the above debate the question of Ptolemy came on for discussion.
The ambassadors sent by the Achaeans the Ptolemy having been summoned, Lycortas with his colleagues came forward, and reported in the first place how they had exchanged the oaths of alliance with Ptolemy,
and next stated that they were the bearers of gifts to the Achaean nation consisting of six thousand bronze shields for peltasts and two hundred talents weight of coined bronze.
After expressing his thanks to the king and briefly touching on his friendly sentiments towards the League, he concluded his speech.
The Achaean strategus Aristaenus now got up, and asked Ptolemy's ambassadors and those sent by the Achaeans to renew the alliance, which alliance had been renewed.
When no one answered, but all the envoys began to talk between themselves, the house was at a loss to understand why.
The cause of the confusion was as follows. There were several alliances between the Achaeans and Ptolemy, the terms of which varied widely with the variety of the circumstances under which they had been concluded;
yet neither did Ptolemy's envoy make any distinction when the alliance was renewed but spoke in general terms on the subject,
nor did the Achaean envoys do so, but exchanged oaths with the king as if there had only been one alliance.
So that when the strategus produced all the alliances and explained in detail the points in which they differed, the divergences being very marked, the assembly demanded to know which alliance they were renewing.
When neither Philopoemen, who had made the renewal during his year of office, nor Lycortas and his colleagues, who had been to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexandria&groupId=1063&placeId=1868">Alexandria</a>, could give any explanation,
they were judged to have treated affairs of state in a perfunctory fashion, but Aristaenus acquired a great reputation as being the only man who knew what he was speaking about. Finally he did not allow the resolution to be ratified but adjourned the debate on it owing to the confusion I have explained.
Upon the envoys from Seleucus entering the house the Achaeans voted to renew the alliance with that king, but to refuse the fleet of ships for the present.
After these subjects had been discussed the assembly dissolved, the members returning to their cities.
Walbank Commentary