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

Barbary States” in general, they observed briefly: “We do not find ourselves
authorized to treat with those Powers, as they are not in Europe, and, indeed,
we are not furnished with funds for making them presents.” 59
In 1779, Congress “Ordered, That the papers relative to a negotiation
with the states of Barbary, be referred to a committee of three.” 60 After that,
those early initiatives for launching negotiations stalemated and the Barbary
States passed into oblivion. For the next five years or so, Algiers disappeared
almost completely from American state papers; it reappeared from time to time
either furtively or under the general entry of ‘Barbary States’ as in 1782 when
Livingston, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, wrote Franklin asking him to procure
the United States “new connexions,” i.e.: new diplomatic recognitions from
other countries. On the occasion, Livingstone reminded him about a subject
that “seems to have been forgotten in the hurry of business,” adding: “I mean
that with the States of Barbary.” 61
2. 2. Negotiating Algiers in Other Treaties
When the Netherlands found itself forced into a League of Armed
Neutrality 62
(1780) to protect its own commerce against Great Britain, the
American Commissioners seized the opportunity and moved to seek on the
59 DCAR, 1:359, Commissioners to the President of Congress, November 7, 1778.
60 SJ, 2:520, Proceedings, February 24, 1779.
61 DCAR, 4:32, Robert R. Livingston to B. Franklin, November 9, 1782.
62 The League of Armed Neutrality was an alliance formed in 1780; it included the northern states of
Europe (Denmark, Prussia, and Sweden) in addition to Russia. It was formed with the purpose of
forcing Great Britain to respect their right as neutrals to trade in non-contraband goods (not involving
arms, naval stores, and foodstuffs) with France with which it was at war. For further details see Bemis,
A Diplomatic History, pp. 35-45.
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