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

earlier sniveling fears and accusations of assaults, violence, and injuries against
Algiers, the Commissioners admitted that:
an acknowledgment of the independence of the United States, and a
treaty of commerce between them and us, would be beneficial to both,
and a negotiation to that end not unlikely to succeed, because there has
been heretofore some trade between them and us, in the course of which
our people and vessels were well received. 56
And carrying on boldly with the offensive, they offered “either to commence a
negotiation for passes for American vessels immediately or to wait until we can
write to Congress, and obtain power to conclude treaties of commerce with
them [Barbary States],” because, as they explained, their powers do not “extend
to conclude treaties with the Barbary States.” 57
The Commissioners’ alternative was certainly a relief for the assaulted
but shrewd Foreign Minister who disposed of them politely but not without
specifying that two prerequisites were necessary for making treaties: presents
and funds. This is an indication that France, mindful about treaties and customs
that regulate relations with Algiers, would engage in mediation only when
those two conditions were fulfilled:
I think it proper that you should be provided with full powers from
Congress, and that you should be not only authorized to propose the
presents which you may be expected to bestow, but also supplied with
the necessary funds to satisfy these expectations. 58
Indeed, the Commissioners reported to Congress. While enclosing
correspondence with the French officials “on the subject of negotiation with the
56 DCAR, 1:339-40, Commissioners to Count de Vergennes, October 1, 1778.
57 Ibid.
58 Ibid., 1:353-54, Count de Vergennes to Commissioners, October 30, 1778.
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