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

the demands” and “to enlarge their offers agreeably” so that “His most christian
majesty” would agree, nevertheless, “to use his interest and influence to
procure passes … for the vessels of the United States upon the
Mediterranean.” 45
So, with a simple pen-stroke, the egotistical and greedy
Americans wanted to get Mediterranean passes for free and with the least effort
at a time those passes were regulated by intricate treaties and were causing
enormous problems both for Algerian corsairs as well as for European cruisers
and privateers.
Obviously, the French who were supportive of the Americans in matters
of credits and arms because it served them against their colonial rival Great
Britain, were absolutely not intent upon bringing American trade into the
Mediterranean. Furthermore, at that time the French were entertaining good
relations with the Dey of Algiers; 46 and evidently they did not want to irritate
him lest they would jeopardize their interests at Bastion de France—as it was
customary when the Deys were displeased. Therefore, after a long and intricate
bargaining that lasted for almost two years, the Americans could obtain no
more than promises from “The most christian king” of France to “employ his
good offices and interposition” with the regency of Algiers in the final Treaty
of Amity and Commerce of 1778. 47
Bullying escalated when Commissioners Franklin, Adams, and Lee
moved unscrupulously to interpret the treaty to their advantage. Pressuring for
45 SJ, 2:27-28, Instructions to _____, September 17, 1776.
46 Grammont, Histoire d’Alger, pp. 333-34.
47 SJ, 2:63, Treaty of Amity and Commerce, May 4, 1778.
219