 Simcoe was instructed to avoid giving the US reason to mistrust Britain but, at the same time, to keep the Natives on both sides of the border friendly to Britain.The Indians asked for British military support, which was initially refused, but in 1794 Britain supplied the Indians with rifles and ammunition.In February 1794, the governor general, Lord Dorchester, expecting the US to ally with France, said that war was likely to break out between the US and Britain before the year was out.