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

while trampling international law and custom, the emerging Siegfried sought to
use force, as soon as it could get that, to reverse the existing system of
international relations. 2
Accordingly, disdain, deceit, greed, selfishness and
aggressiveness were going to be the characteristics of America’s new
diplomacy towards Algiers.
1. Maritime Tensions and Diplomatic Failures in early Algerian-American
Relations
1. 1. The Captives in early Algerian-American Diplomacy
In general, American ships sailing in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean,
even though they lost legal bearing of British passports after 1776, carried on
their trading activities as they had always done without any major incident—
except for rumored news of capture or declaration of war on the United States
by Algiers. 3 Those rumors were probably orchestrated by the major European
powers or their agents to scare the Americans out of Mediterranean trade. The
Americans on their side did not relinquish trade and for that they cheated.
Anticipating control at the sight of Algerian corsairs, they recurred to hosting
the British flag and producing forged British Mediterranean passports, 4
a
deeply-rooted illegal activity which the Americans inherited from their colonial
past and amplified after independence.
2 Siegfried is a mythical figure who appears in Old Norse and German literature. He is presented as a
boy who grew up without parental care and stands for strength and courage. As to his end, it is not
clear whether he triumphed or was defeated. “Siegfried,” Encyclopædia Britannica. (Accessed 4
August 2008).
3 LDC, 22: 230, North Carolina Delegates to Alexander Martin, March 1, 1785; CPPJJ, 3:171, Jay to
the President of Congress, October 13, 1785.
4 Peskin, “Lessons of Independence,” p. 197-98.
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