The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-04-06
DIPLOMATIC CRISES
Breaking Off Relations Does Not
Always Spell War.
WE HAVE HAD MANY CLASHES.
Ono Of Our Disputes With France
Brought Us to tho Very verse Of
Hostilities, but the Quarrel Was Am
loably Settlod-Our Break With Italy.

Several times before our break with
Germany this country severed diplo-
matte relations with foreign powers
without war as a result We had a
number Of diplomatic crises with
France, and we also broke with Vene-
zuela, Nicaragua, Mexico and Italy, yet
hostilities In each case were averted.
During. President Madison's admin
istration American commerce had suf-
fered severely from the enforcement OF
the Berlin and Milan DEGREES, issued
by Napoleon, and when peace was
finally declared In Europe In 1915 this
government at once sought monetary
compensation for the damages done Its
citizens. While the French government
readily admitted the Justice Of the
claim, 1t seemed In no hurry to pay 1t,
and the negotiations dragged along un-
til President Jackson referred to the
subject with unusual harshness In his
first annual message to congress.
This action resulted In a treaty be-
tween the two nations, binding the
French government to pay to the Unit
ed States the sum Of $5,00O,0O0 In six
annual installments. But the payments
were not made, and this moved Presi-
dent Jackson to send another fiery
MESA &c to congress, which put France
In q rage and resulted in the ministers
Of both countries being recalled. Pres
ident Jackson then abruptly demanded
the payment of the money.
The reply Of the French government
In turn enraged this country. I'VE
will pay the money" wrote the French
foreign minister, when the govern
ment Of the United States Is ready on
its part to declare to us, by address
Ing its claim to us officially In writing,
that Il regrets the misunderstanding
| which has arisen between the two
countries that this misunderstanding
Is founded upon mistake and that 1t
never entered into its intention to call
In question the good faith OF the
French government nor to take men,
acing attitude toward France. IL the
| United States does not give this as
surance we shall be obliged to think
| tUut tulS 10 hVt shS
result Of an error
| The excitement in this country and
France soon approached that frenzy
which precedes war, and the presi-
dents message contained nothing to
| allay 1t.
War preparations were made with
frantic energy, large French squad
ron appeared In the vicinity or the
West Indies, and In congress John
Quincy Adams made a speech 80 thrill
ing I'm its eloquence that when the
venerable orator resumed his seat "the
very walls shook with the thunderins
applause he had awakened" But that
was all. A few weeks later Presi
dent Jackson Informed congress thai
he had accepted the offer OF Great
Britain To act as mediator In the dis
pute. with the proviso that the apology
demanded by the French government
was out OF the question, and In May
1896, the entire incident was brought
TO an appropriate conclusion by France
paying the money due OF Its own &C
cord without awaiting for the actor
of the arbitrator. Lewis Cass ther
went TO France as minister plenipoten
tiary. and King Louis Philippe showed
the true affection he felt for the Unit
ed States by ordering a painting o
President Andrew Jackson TO be huni
in the palace Of the Tuileries.
Our diplomatic relations with ltal.
were severed during President Benja
min Harrison's term.
Members OF the Mafla. an Italian sc
cret society. had perpetrated series o
murders In New Orleans. The acuyit
NJ Chief Of Police David 2, Hennesee