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

Passports seemed not to bother the Americans as long as they could
devise a substitution for that: counterfeiting. Through misconduct the
Americans transgressed the principle of control of shipping with all impunity.
For the two last principles, the approach was simple: as expense was involved,
which was contrary to the principles of the greedy and avaricious American
mind, payment for treaties and tribute as a counterpart for privileges, therefore,
could not be conceived of. Even though sanctioned by the “laws or usage of
nations,” to quote the famous American lawyer and later-to-be first Chief-
Justice of the United States John Jay, the Americans cheating mind decided
otherwise. For the treaties, they opted first for evading them by attempting to
hide behind the flag of other nations, a ruse which did not work. The second
alternative consisted of getting those treaties at cheap, or indeed very cheap,
expenses which was also the case for redemption. As a treaty could not be
negotiated, regardless of the expenses so dear to the Americans, Algiers agreed
to redemption on the basis of a negotiated price with the special envoy in April
1786. The Americans, however, failed to follow suit and turned the back to
their captives and disappeared.
So, according to existing laws of nations and custom, none of the above
mentioned principles were respected by the Americans; instead, those resorted
to a two-tier maneuver. While crying their indignation, the Americans
proceeded to conspire with Christian states for a naval strike against Algiers at
the condition that that also would cost cheap. That line of conduct was going to
be America’s policy towards Algiers for the next three decades. In other terms,
248