Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

without providing a counterpart for that. Hence, selfishness and aggressiveness
are inherent characteristics of American foreign policy. For Adams and fellow
revolutionaries, the plan was intended to realize the ideas of an alliance that
“did not imply a political bond” but establish contacts with outside powers
“that should be limited to trade relations.” 13 The American historian Samuel
Flagg Bemis (1891-1973), an authority on American diplomatic history, called
that “a very one-sided treaty” by means of which Congress expected Europe
“to recognize the independence of the United States and extend military aid and
protection, without any guaranties by the new republic.” 14
The Plan of 1776 may be considered as the founding document of
American foreign policy. Initially, it was drawn up to serve as a model treaty
for negotiations with France but later it was extended to all European courts. 15
A quick analysis of that document shows that American foreign policy was
founded on self-interested commerce. Of the thirty articles of the proposed
treaty, twenty were concerned with the general principles of commerce, rules
of trade and navigation, and miscellaneous issues relating to commerce; the
remaining ten articles (nos. 3-5, 7-9, and 11-14) related to different matters. 16
Although of a political and military nature, the latter were all the same
introduced to enhance or secure already existing commercial interests as is the
case of Article VII particularly, which emphasized protection of American
13 Gilbert, “New Diplomacy,” p. 24.
14 Bemis, A Diplomatic History, p. 26.
15 The Plan, along with instructions to diplomatic agents, can be found in SJ, 2:6-27, 27-30, Plan of a
Treaty with France, Sept. 17, 1776.
16 For an in-depth analysis of the Plan of 1776 see Gilbert, “New Diplomacy,” pp. 18-32.
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