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
You may remember, that from the very beginning of our negotiations for
settling a peace between Great Britain and America, I insisted that
you should positively stipulate for a restoration of the property of
all those persons, under the denomination of loyalists or refugees,
who have taken part with Great Britain in the present war; or if the
property had been resold and passed into such variety of hands, as to
render the restoration impracticable, (which you asserted to be the
case in many instances) you should stipulate for a compensation or
indemnification to those persons, adequate to their losses. To these
propositions you said you could not accede. Mr Strachey, since his
arrival at Paris, has most strenuously joined me in insisting upon the
said restitution, compensation, or indemnification, and in laying
before you every argument in favor of those demands, founded upon
national honor, and upon the true principles of justice. These demands
you must have understood to extend, not only to all persons of the
above mentioned description, who have fled to Europe, but likewise to
all those who may be now in any parts of North America, dwelling under
the protection of his Majesty's arms or otherwise.
We have also insisted upon a mutual stipulation for a general amnesty
on both sides, comprehending thereby an enlargement of all persons,
who on account of offences, committed or supposed to be committed,
since the commencement of hostilities, may be now in confinement; and
for an immediate repossession of their properties, and peaceable
enjoyment thereof, under the government of the United States. To this
you have not hitherto given a particular or direct answer.
It is, however, incumbent on me, as Commissioner of the King of Great
Britain, to repeat those several demands; and without going over those
arguments upon paper, (which we have so often urged in conversation,)
to press your immediate attention to these subjects, and to urge you
to enter into proper stipulations for the restitution, compensation,
and amnesty above mentioned, before we proceed further in this
negotiation.
I have the honor to be, &c.
RICHARD OSWALD.
* * * * *
ARTICLES TAKEN TO ENGLAND BY MR STRACHEY.[12]
November 5, 1782.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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