Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1800-10-06
Politics..
State Of the Negotiation with France.
CFrOm a Paris fap-r Of AHg. 81

Al HE conferences opened az Paris with the
EuVoys Of the United States are at ,refent
iulpended and there is little hope Of their
being fucceisfully returned for fome time In
appears thai the powers veaed 10 the Euvoys
are too limited 20 enable them 70 conclude
treaty which thall give the fame advantages to
the Republic as lhofe grantei to the Engllh BY
The treaty made viii Mr.. Jay. France choof
IS rather 10 decline treating with the Uni ed
States, than 10 iandion the privilege which
they have accorded to her eremy.
The queRion in dilPute win appear from the
following particulars.
The United States and England, BY the 9Th
article of thtir treaty, mutually nipulale
free entrance into their REFLECTIVE ports, with
complete protection 10 the Privateers and ibips
of war Of the two countries, and The prizes TAX
en- from their enemies. And they engage new
or to conclude a treaty extending the lame fav-
our TO any nation az war with either Of the
contracting parties. The treaty Of 1878. be-
tween France and the Urited States having
been annulled by the latter and now regarded
as if it never had exiaed, they conceive that
they cannot give the fame Privls ges to France
without violating their treaty with England.
The French Republic does not feem dilpoed
to ratify, 10 her own prejudice, and in favour
Of the Engfh, her enemies and rivals, pro-
ceeding 70 unexpected on The part Of th- Anne
ricans, with whom ihe recently made a com
mon caule againf thole very enemies, directed
to the fame objea for which Franck herfelf is
now at Var-the attainment Of liberty and ID
dependence
1t is unfortunate that the United States r.
preciptatey annuAed the treaty Of I778.-
They themielve, now repent that they were
induced to take that iteP, As it deprivss them
of he power Of giving TO France or any other
country The fame advantages which hey have
conferred on the Englh. Their diplomatic
agents mult have reen wy fhort lighted, or
very partial to the intereas OF England or
their Eavoys mutt give wrong Interpretation
10 their inItuctions, and the tie1ty alluded To !;
fnce it appears that France, renouncinE the
claims ihe may have from The priority Of the
treaty Of 1878, now offers 10 treat without dc
manding other advantages than thofe en-
joyed by the Engllh, aud which they have
exercfed DUNG the prelent war and the
AmbadAIoIs NUT come with a very bad grace
to negotiate a peace, It they are NOT vcAed
with power to accede to thele con litions.
The negotiation was opened on the part Of
the French Cornmilioners, on the fuppoiition
that the treaty Of 1878 was Gill in force. It
was, indeed, natural 70 fuppcle tint, the two
nations never having been in a fate of war
with each other, this treaty could not have
been annullel without the content of both
countries; and ia this point Of view it was that
the French Commilioners offered an indemni-
hcation to the Americans, by admitting the
prime pie of comPenf4ton for illegal captures
They even proceeded further infead of
demanding from the Americans, the indefinite
guarantee of the French colonies, the article of
The treaty which was NOT advantageous 10
the former, they agreed to the fuhatution of
fpecial guarantee, fuch as appears to BE con
tai ed in the inlru6tons Of the preceding
Ambafddors, according TO the copy of them
Publilhed by Congrefs But the American
ENJOYS were not authorized TO renew this trea-
ty, even after retrenching TOE article reipe6ting
the guarantee Of the French illn1s. France,
therefore conceived herfelf exempted from the
obligation of compenlating for The captures ;
the Americans tbemf-lves having by abfogar
ing the treaty, dearoyej the BATS on which on
ly their cl4 ms could have been founded.
1t thus appear th,t the negotiation turned
chiefly on three nints
l. The continuance in force, or the modified
renewal Of the r atty Of 1878. France waved
this point n confequence of the aiurances Of
the American ENJOYS thar they could not re.
new il.
2. The principle of compcn(ation for Illegal
captures, This point France 49ered to admit