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

Then, it was only when the Americans realized that “there was to be no
inexpensive short cut to peace with North Africa” 111
that Congress decided to
negotiate directly with the “Barbary Powers” for “treaties of amity, or of amity
and commerce.” 112 The treaties were to be negotiated for a duration of ten years
“or for a term as much longer as can be procured.” 113 The resolution adopted on
May 7, 1784 provided for the creation of a commission consisting of Franklin,
Adams, and Jefferson and operating from Paris and London with the purpose of
carrying negotiations, signing such treaties when concluded, and “transmitting
them to Congress for their final ratification.” 114 To that Commission Congress
appointed David Humphreys, U. S. representative in Portugal, as secretary. 115
That diffuse responsibility was one of the major problems which handicapped
negotiations with Algiers. When information and mutual consultations had to
transit through five capitals separated by two seas and one ocean in an age of
sail before any decision could be taken that must certainly account for one of
the reasons which led to the failure of negotiations with Algiers.
Besides that intricate and unreasonable diplomatic machinery, Congress
did not allot the funds necessary for the conclusion of peace treaties with the
North African states. For a number of years, however, the commissioners had
been spying in all courts of Europe about the amounts of money Barbary
treaties and tributes cost as well as about presents (what were they? How much
111 Barnby, Prisoners of Algiers, p. 71.
112 SJ, 3:489, May 7, 1784.
113 Ibid.
114 Ibid., Franklin left France in July 1785; consequently, the responsibility to negotiate the redemption
of prisoners and to conclude a treaty with Algiers fell largely to Adams and Jefferson.
115 Ibid., 3:499, May 12, 1784.
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