Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

Franklin, however, was of another view. 30
For the attainment of
independence, he argued, Americans should seek good relations with the
nations unfriendly to England instead of pressing them for alliances. 31
Franklin’s view failed while the former prevailed because it “harmonized with
the necessities of the situation.” 32 The advocates of aggressive diplomacy had
their way in Congress and elected a number of agents to the courts of Europe.
Special agents, disguised as ‘commercial agents,’ were commissioned by
Congress and dispatched to Spain, Austria, Prussia, Russia, the Netherlands,
and the Duchy of Tuscany. France was singled out by a Joint Commission in
proportion with the expectations of Congress. 33
That diplomatic offensive
proved to be fruitless as no European country intended to recognize or support
the rebellious colonies, let alone grant them commercial privileges. Except for
Franklin who was informally received in France, 34 the rest of agents were
either arrested, rebuffed, humiliated, or simply ignored and scorned. 35
But
Adams was optimistic: “wise men know that militia sometimes gain [sic]
victories over regular troops even by departing from the rules,” he wrote. 36
With regard to the performance and the results the ‘militia diplomats’ were
obtaining, however, they were considered to be “as ineffective as the
blundering militiamen at home.” 37
30 Barnes, Foreign Service, p. 17.
31 Foster, A Century of American Diplomacy, p. 9.
32 Ibid., p. 10.
33 Ibid., p. 9-11; Bailey, A Diplomatic History, p. 27-28.
34 Duroselle, La France et les Etats-Unis, p. 23.
35 USRDC, 5:196, John Adams to Livingston, February 21, 1782; Barnes, Foreign Service, p. 17-20.
36 USRDC, 5:196, John Adams to Livingston, February 21, 1782.
37 Bailey, A Diplomatic History, p. 28.
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