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

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2. Algiers-United States <strong>Diplomatic</strong> Relations: From Crises to Gunboats<br />

The George Wash<strong>in</strong>gton episode may be considered as a m<strong>in</strong>or <strong>in</strong>cident<br />

<strong>in</strong> relations between Algiers and the United States. Tribute, however, rema<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

the thorniest issue which complicated those relations and precipitated the two<br />

countries <strong>in</strong>to conflict. As of early 1801, the United States was <strong>in</strong>debted to<br />

Algiers <strong>with</strong> two and a half years <strong>in</strong> arrearages. 48 It was not until March 1802<br />

that president Thomas Jefferson could communicate to Congress that the sums<br />

owed to the “government of Algiers are now fully paid up”—or almost. 49<br />

O’Brien could write <strong>with</strong> relief to the American consul at Gibraltar: “we have<br />

f<strong>in</strong>ally paid all our debt to the regency on the annuities. We are square for six<br />

years, from the 5 th September, 1795, to the 5 th September, 1801.” 50 So, it took<br />

the United States that long time, despite requirements of the treaty of 1795, to<br />

deliver stores. Then aga<strong>in</strong>, despite those same requirements which specified<br />

payment of annual tribute <strong>in</strong> maritime stores, the United States opted for<br />

different forms of payment. In 1799, for example, O’Brien not only converted<br />

the value of the two frigates late Hassan Pasha had requested to tribute<br />

payments but also <strong>in</strong>flated their value. 51 Realiz<strong>in</strong>g that the new Dey Mustafa<br />

and other Alger<strong>in</strong>e officials were ignorant about the terms of the treaty, he<br />

decided to ‘play on them’ or as he reported proudly to the Secretary of States:<br />

48 ASP/FA, 2:354, Extract of a letter from Richard O’Brien to the Secretary of State, January 27, 1801.<br />

49 Ibid., 2:381, From the President of the United States to Congress Relative to Transactions <strong>with</strong> the<br />

Barbary Powers, March 1, 1802. The full accounts for the period 1795-1801 appear <strong>in</strong> ASP/FA, 2:368-<br />

81, The Barbary States, February 16, 1802.<br />

50 Ibid., 2:382, Capta<strong>in</strong> O’Brian to Consul Gav<strong>in</strong>o, at Gibraltar, November 28, 1801.<br />

51 Parker, Uncle Sam <strong>in</strong> Barbary, p. 125. O’Brien put the price at $98,000 (the Dey and Cathcart<br />

evaluated the two ships at $78,000). Cathcart, The Captives, p. 277.<br />

350

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