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

Once on the field, Franklin wrote commenting:
Our business now is to carry our point. But I have never yet changed the
opinion I gave in Congress, that a state should not go abroad suitoring
for alliances; but wait with decent dignity for the application of others. I
was overruled—perhaps for the best. 38
explaining:
Years later, Adams returned on the question and wrote Franklin
we have not meanly solicited for friendships anywhere. But to send
ministers to any great court in Europe, especially the maritime courts, to
propose an acknowledgment of the independence of America and
treaties of amity and commerce, is no more than becomes us, and in my
opinion is our duty to do. It is perfectly consistent with the genuine
system of American Policy, and a piece of respect due from new nations
to old ones. 39
No one is better placed than Adams to describe the foundations he laid
for American foreign policy. True, aggressiveness is “perfectly consistent with
the genuine system of American Policy” but one may not say the same about
Adams’ “piece of respect due from new nations to old ones.” Adams respect
was limited to a ‘most christian king’ but did not extend to include Muslim
rulers and their countries which he considered protection against them was
desperately needed. 40
For long years, that assaulting militia was going to beg
and snivel, ruse and plot, maneuver and plan, cheat and lie, deceive and fuss,
and league and counter-league just for this: not to spend ‘a cent’—as one of
American later maxims would say—on treaties with the North African states as
38 DCAR, 1:416, From B. Franklin to Arthur Lee, March 21, 1777.
39 Ibid., 5:361, John Adams to B. Franklin, October 14, 1780.
40 SJ, 2:6-27, Plan of a Treaty with France, Sept. 17, 1776, USRDC, 6:537, John Adams to Livingston,
July 12, 1783.
214