If we take an overall view, the drift of Xenophon's narrative seems fairly clear. After Leuctra it seems likely that Thebes will be preoccupied with Jason of Pherae and not in a position to interfere in the Peloponnese. The Athenians see that the Peloponnesians still think they ought to follow (sc. the Spartans) and that the Spartans are not yet in the position that they reduced the Athenians to (sc. in 404), and they therefore summon a conference (vi.5.1). This would lead us to expect that what follows will be aimed against Sparta and will provide guarantees for cities who wish to detach themselves from Sparta. This is confirmed by the appearance of the Eleans who are seeking a reversal of the terms of 400 (111.2.30) and the Mantineans who are seeking a reversal of their διoικισμòς. Whatever the arguments are which are employed in the debate of vi.5.33–48, and I shall return to them, it is this debate which produces the ϕιλία with Sparta which has to be institutionalised later (VII.I.I–2). If Xenophon has suppressed Sparta's willing participation in the Athens conference and her acceptance as a partner by that conference, he has been seriously misleading on a point on which we would expect him to be clearest.

The first result of the conference is that the Mantineans regard themselves wς nδδη αuΤόνoμoι πανΤάπσασιν OνΤɛς, and vote to rebuild. This will be a blow to the prestige of the Spartans, they send Agesilaus to prevent them from building, or at any rate from building without Sparta's permission, and he is unsuccessful; στραΤɛΎɛιν γɛ μένΤOι Eπ αΎΤOΎς OU δ∪ναΤòν EδóΚɛι ɛiναι Eπ αUΤOνOμίa Τnς ɛiρnνης γɛγɛνɛμημένης(VI.5.3–5).