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Dubois' policy was steadily directed towards maintaining the [[peace of Utrecht]], and this made him the main opponent of the schemes of [[Giulio Alberoni|Cardinal Alberoni]] for the aggrandizement of Spain. To counteract Alberoni's intrigues, he suggested an alliance with Britain and in the face of great difficulties succeeded in negotiating the [[Triple Alliance (1717)]]. In 1719 he sent armies into Spain as part of the [[Quadruple Alliance (1718)|Quadruple Alliance]] which forced [[Philip V of Spain|Philip V]] to dismiss Alberoni. Otherwise, his policy remained that of peace. Dubois' success strengthened him against the bitter opposition of a large section of the court. Dubois was instrumental during the [[Cellamare conspiracy]] of 1718.<ref>Saint-Simon Vol.3 pp.218 ff</ref>
He prayed the regent to give him the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cambrai|archbishopric of Cambrai]], the richest in France. This demand was supported by [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] and the regent yielded. Dubois aimed for the Cardinal's hat because such an ecclesiastical title would give him the utmost prominence and precedence in the ''Conseil d'en haut'', giving him the ability to remove his political adversaries with impunity. The regent was initially reluctant: though not himself a religious man, he could hardly regard Dubois as a suitable archbishop, at a time when the ambitious [[Claudine Guérin de Tencin]] was universally believed to be his mistress.<ref>Saint-Simon Vol.3 p.259</ref> The regent called Dubois "the most rascally, atheistic, and worst priest there has ever been."<ref>{{cite book| title=The Great Nation: France from Louis XV to Napoleon| author=Colin Jones| publisher=Columbia University Press| location=New York| year=2002|
In one day all the usual orders were conferred upon him, and even the great preacher [[Jean Baptiste Massillon|Massillon]] consented to take part in the ceremonies. His next aim was the cardinalate, and, after long and most profitable negotiations on the part of [[Pope Clement XI]], the red hat was given to him by [[Pope Innocent XIII|Innocent XIII]] (1721), whose election was largely due to the bribes of Dubois. It is estimated that this cardinalate cost France about eight million francs. In the following year he was named [[List of Prime Ministers of France|first minister of France]] (August). He was soon after received at the [[Académie Française]], and he was named [[President of the Assembly of Clergy]].
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