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

had already decided to impose the treaty no matter the position of Algiers: “the
Dey must distinctly understand that we will make no change in the late treaty,
no concessions of any sort to avoid it.” 124
In August 1816, a terrible bombardment of Algiers by the British and
Dutch warships which virtually annihilated the fleet of Algiers proved to be a
decisive Christian blow to the resistance of Algiers. It also proved to be
advantageous to the United States. In December 1816, the American squadron
returned with the answer of Madison but also an ultimatum to the Dey denying
him the right to reject the treaty of 1815. 125 The Americans offered to modify
article 18 of the treaty which gave them advantage over the most favored
nations regarding the sale of war prizes at Algiers, a cause of the British
bombardment of Algiers in August 1816. 126 Totally deprived of a navy, the
Dey could not avoid signing the treaty on December 23, 1816.
The treaty of 1816, however, was not ratified by Congress until
February 1822. 127 As the treaty was not signed by the Dey until December
1816, by the time it reached the United States, a new administration was
installed—that of James Monroe (1817-1825). It seems that the Department of
State had ‘forgotten’ to transmit it to the Senate for ratification. In the
introductory message for ratification, which was indeed a justification for the
delay, Monroe simply specified that “it was not recollected.” 128 Knowing that
124 As cited in Irwin, Diplomatic Relations, p. 184.
125 Shaler, Sketches of Algiers, pp. 297-300. See Appendix 17.
126 Ibid., p. 298. It does not seem that the Americans modified the article in question. See SaL, 8:246-
47.
127 SaL, 8:244.
128 CMPP, 2:679-80, Special Messages, December 30, 1821.
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