“The two parties guaranty, _mutually_, from the present time _and forever_, against all other powers, to wit: The United States to His Most Christian Majesty, _the present possessions of the crown of France in America_, as well as those which it may acquire by the future treaty of peace; and His Most Christian Majesty guaranties, on his part, to the United States, _their liberty_, _sovereignty_, _and independence, absolute and unlimited_, as well in matters of government as commerce, and also their possessions, and the additions or conquests that their Confederation may obtain during the war from any of the dominions now or heretofore possessed by Great Britain in North America.”[148] To fix more precisely the sense of this article, it was further stipulated, that,-- “_In case of a rupture_ between France and England, the reciprocal guaranty shall have its full force and effect the moment such war shall break out; and if such rupture shall not take place, the mutual obligations of the said guaranty shall not commence until the moment of the cessation of the present war between the United States and England shall have ascertained their possessions.”[149] The possessions of France in America at this date were the islands of San Domingo, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Lucia, St. Bartholomew, Deseada, Mariegalante, St. Pierre, Miquelon, and, on the main-land, Cayenne,--each and all of which the United States guarantied to France _forever_, being a _continuing guaranty_, so far as this term of law is applicable to an international transaction, which, beginning “in case of a rupture between France and England,” was operative after “the cessation of the present war between the United States and England,” and was to continue “forever.”