The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-03-31

would, BY making compensation, acknowledge victor
and purchase peace
The second proposition Of the ministers Of France, In
ease the former shall accepted viii then be the abb
Of ancient treaties the formation OF treaty
in which the French nation abandoning privilege ineon
venient 10 the United States shall be placed In her pot
cal and commercial relations equal footing win the
most favored nation and entire silence on The subject
OF indemntes Thus the proposition the ministers OF
have the honor to communicate 10 the ministers
penipotenary Of the United States is reduced TO this sim
pie alternative:
Either the ancient treaties carrying with them the priv
eges resulting anterorty together with spulatons
for reciprocal indemnity treaty promising equal
y un attended with ndemnes In this double overture
and the explanation accompanying H. the ministers OF the
United will without doubt perceive the desire Of the
French government to terminate the negotiation In man
ner satisfactory TO the United States
This decisive proposition is thus commented on in the
journal Of the American ministers at became
sary decide whether the negotiation should be broken
off or the instructions departed from whether the treaties
should be revived the indemnities sacrificed and, If
the treaties revived whether after considering the
the French note and the obsnaey with which the
ministers adhered attempt should be made to ef
feet a modification that might enable government to ex
tnguh the exclusive privileges Of France under the treaty
amiiy and commerce. well her claims under the
treaty of alliance
The notifications attempted by the American min
listers in vain attempts modification continued
from day to day the delivery of the alternative propo
stons on the lth August the 18th Of September On
that day the American ENJOYS received the French ut
matum which they condene in the following principles
and explanations
The ministers of France unable depart from the
notifications which they had yesterday the honor pro-
pose verbally the American ministers the subject of
their of the 9th of September l9th Fructidor They
adhere TO- That stipulation of ndemnes carries with
4. ff,apo tbaf hat
the abandonment of the advantages and privileges slip
ulaed by the treaties in consideration of the recipro
cal abandonment of indemnities viii be the most useful
and honorable arrangement for both nations
Acting these principles the French ministers persist
the verbal declarations made at the conference yeste
day. They will, therefore proceed to give some expla
nations on each the articles of the OF the 9th Of
September.
l. The ancient treaties shall be recognised and con-
frmed.
The obligations the guarantee shall be specified and
limited the first paragraph of their third proposition
of the goth of August
8. There shall be mutual indemnities and mutual
restoration Of captured property not yet dentyey
demned according the fifth and sixth propositions of
that date.
If at the exchange of Publications the United States
shall propose reciprocal abandonment Of ndemnes the
French republic will agree this propositions and this
case the ancient treaties shall not be deemed obligatory
except that under the 18th and 22d articles Of the treaty
commerce. the parties shall continue have for their
yessels-owar prvaeers and prizes in their respective
ports, the privileges enjoyed by the favored
On this things the journal Of the American ENJOYS
makes this
The American ministers being convinced that the
door perfectly closed against all hope of obtaining
IDENTITIES with any notifications of the treaties only
remained determined whether under all the circum-
il would be expedent attempt temporary
arrangement which would exrcae the United States from
4 a.. -
at present involved, the immense property Of
citizens depending before the council of prizes,
and secure as far as possible our commerce against the
abuses Of captures during the present war"
And then they make this final proposition
The ministers plenpotentiar of respective parties
being able at present agree respecting the former
treaties and indemnities the parties will in due and
venent time further treat on those subjects and until
they shall have agreed respecting the the said
| ties shall have no operation
To this the French replied by this couner-proect being
on the main point the
The ministers Of France those of the United States
finding the close of discussions that they
agree this time either respecting the nerpreta-
ton of 18th article Of the treaty Of alliance IT'S and
the 18th and 22d articles of the treaty of the
same year, the subject of the reciprocal ndemnes
due in consequence of the captures made from the citizens
of the two nations have agreed follows: Article l.
The two parties defer to another time the discussion the
ndemnties aud OF the aforementioned articles the
ties of lT7S and in other particular these treaties
by these presents recognised and confirmed well
as the consular convention of lTTs.'
This is the whole story Of the negotiation and its con-
eusion. The only point of difficulty was the adjourned
pointthe parties not being able agree on the inter-
probation of the treaties the subject of the recp
roca ndemnes due in consequence of the captures made
| from the citizens of the two nations.
The real aim of the parties in enforcing their opposing
views in regard to the Interpretation Of the treaties and
whether they in force not this The French
aimed to have the treaties acknowledged existing and
their Interpretation adopted because they knew that in
such the repugnance of Jays treaty 1898 that
IT'S between France and the United States and the con-
strucon Great Britain allowed to put upon was so
destructive to the rights of France that indemnify for
these injuries and those inflicted by the armed vessels of
the United States in capturing French ships would cover
the whole amount of French spoation Indeed the French
commission declared that the acts authorized by the Brit
sh treaty was France and justified on their
side and this in perfect conformity with the opinion of
Washingon cabinet declared the British ministry BY
Mr.. Jefferson, Secretary of State This being the case
the American ENJOYS wished to get rid of the treaty basis
OF negotiation and claim ndemnes for our merchants
without reference the wrongs suffered by France through
the partial privileges conceded to England in 1898 in de
rogaton of the rights of France in virtue Of that of l77s
The second article Of the convention agreed upon
compromise waived the question by leaving il open
for future negotiation But the Senate the United States
wiser than the Of Mr. Adams Ii foresaw that
future negotiation with France then emerging its tr
umphant struggles with ts enemies might prove the bal
Of wrongs be against and they therefore adopted
the alternative offered by the French Observation-Disclosures