The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 10
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 10
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
2dly. You are instructed to meet the advances and encourage the
disposition of the other commercial powers in Europe for entering into
treaties of amity and commerce with these United States. In
negotiations on this subject, you will lay it down as a principle in
no case to be deviated from, that they shall respectively have for
their basis the mutual advantage of the contracting parties on terms
of the most perfect equality and reciprocity, and not to be repugnant
to any of the treaties already entered into by the United States with
France and other foreign powers. That such treaties shall, in the
first instance, be proposed for a term not exceeding fifteen years,
and shall not be finally conclusive until they shall respectively have
been transmitted to the United States in Congress assembled, for their
examination and final direction; and that, with the drafts or
propositions for such treaties, shall be transmitted all the
information which shall come within the knowledge of the said
Ministers respecting the same; and their observations after the most
mature inquiry on the probable advantages or disadvantages and effects
of such treaties respectively.
3dly. You are instructed to continue to press upon the Ministers of
his Danish Majesty the justice of causing satisfaction to be made for
the value of the ships and goods captured by the Alliance frigate and
sent into Bergen, and how essentially it concerns the honor of the
United States that their gallant citizens should not be deprived of
any part of those prizes, which they had so justly acquired by their
valor. That as far as Congress have been informed, the estimate of
those prizes at fifty thousand pounds sterling is not immoderate; that
no more however is desired than their true value, after every
deduction which shall be thought equitable. That Congress have a
sincere disposition to cultivate the friendship of his Danish Majesty,
and to promote a commercial intercourse between his subjects and the
citizens of the United States, on terms which shall promise mutual
advantage to both nations. That it is therefore the wish of Congress,
that this claim should still be referred to the equitable disposition
of his Danish Majesty, in full confidence that the reasonable
expectations of the parties interested will be fully answered;
accordingly you are fully authorised and directed, after exerting your
best endeavors to enforce the said claim to the extent it shall appear
to you to be well founded, to make abatements if necessary, and
ultimately to accept such compensation as his Danish Majesty can be
prevailed upon to grant.
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