Explain why President Polk “had little desire to go to war with Britai

Explain why President Polk “had little desire to go to war with Britain” over the Oregon question but was accused by some of having “deliberately provoked Mexico into war”.

Why was Polk’s action in the latter case more aggressive than in the former?

ANSWER
Consider:
Why not Oregon? Polk feared a two-front war with Mexico and Britain; Polk was a proslavery southerner and was not interested in fighting for northern territories that would become free states; Polk thought northern Oregon was not suitable for agriculture.
Why Mexico? Polk was elected on an expansionist pledge. Mexico was weak. Polk feared Britain was planning to seize Texas and/or California. Polk saw war with Mexico as a chance to expand the area of slavery. Success in war with Mexico would win the prize of California.