Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-12-02
Fran che Aafional Inteilsgenesr.
DOCUMENTS

DOCUMENTS
ACecMpANTINC THE PRESIDENTS MIS-
SAGE or THE 9TH INsTANT.
IcoNrzsuED.
coes Of 8 lester from The han. Ddp;d AZ. r.
skins, envoy extraordinary and r''tssfer
pAsapotsnt;dyy D his Brita'saic fie1ssfy,
to tie Secretary Of State ef the tast '1
SDtcs.
WAsHlrcTos, March II, 1907.
SIR,
am charged, by his majesty, to ex-
press TO the government of the Y. States,
his maicsty's perfect confidence in their good
sense and 6r,nness, IN resisting the unjust
,,rrten,ions contained in the decree issued
81 the French government, at Berlin, on
he twenty-frst Of November, which, II
suffered to take effect, must prove SO de-
structive to the commerce OF all neutral ma
tons.
His majesty has learnt, that the measures
.nno,need in this decree have already, In
.ome instances, been carried into execution
hv the priyateers of the enemy and there
could be no doubt that his majesty would
have an indisputable right to exercise just
retaliation. Neutral nations cannot, indeed.
exnect that the king should suffer the COM
r,erce of his enemies to be carried on thro,
them. whilst they submit to the prohibition
which France has decrccd against the COM
merce of bis maiesty's subjects. But tho
tbisr1eht of retaliation would unguestlona-
hly. accrue ITO his majesty, yet his majesty
is unwilling, except IN the last extremi1y,
IN have recourse to measures, which must
nroue so distressing to all nations not en-
Gagged in the war against France.
His majesty, therefore, with that iorbear-
.nce and moderation, which have, at all
Times. distinguished bis conduct, has. deter
mined, for the present, to contne himself TO
the exercise of The power given hinfby his his
decided naval superiority, IN sucha manner
onIv as IS authorised BY the acknowledged
nr;nciples of The law OF nations, and has IS
sued an order for preventing all commerce,
f,-o,,, mort 10 porf, of his enemies compre-
BENDING, in this order, not only the ports OF
France, but those of other netions, as, either
IN alliance with France, OF subject to her
Jou,;n;on. have, by measures of active Oh
fence. or by the exclusion OF British ifips,
taken a part in the present war.
HA majesty feels an entire confidence,
fiat the moderation and justice OF his con-
duct win be duly appreciated BY the United
States. and has charged me to express TO
their government, in the strongest terms the
rscret T he has experienced in being thus
compelled, in his own defeneres 70 act IN q
r,anner which must prove, in some degree,
! embarrassing 10 the commerce OF neutral
nations. and his sincere desire to avoid any
s,ronper measures to which, however, IT
the Injustice ard <aggressions OF his enemies
sbo,,ld not be resisted by those nations,
whose right. and interests are invaded by
5 90 aaoraI,t a violation of all public law, 1t
NAV be ultimately necessary for the king to
have recourse.
/ have the honor to be, withgreat respect
and consideration, sir, your most oDedient
humble servant, ssg
D. NJ. ERsKINE.
~. Madison, secretary f stdts, n rspty 70
the foregoing.
March 20, 1907.
SIR, =.
/ have laid before the president your
{ ietter Of the 18th instant, communicating
,he views of his Britannia majesty, in reia-
t;;t,n Il, tisc French decree of November Fl,
1ae6. and to the principle of retaliation
through che commerce OF saeutrals, who
NAV snbrniit 10 the operation Of that decree