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

• The operations should be directed against Algiers first. When it would
“be reduced to peace, the other piratical States … shall become the
objects of this convention. 153
Jefferson then, the salted fish and meat trader, turned suddenly hawkish
in the midst of his business and elaborated an ingenious aggression plan against
Algiers and the other Muslim states which he intended to carry out with the
help of the Christian countries. His second step consisted of submitting his
proposal to targeted ambassadors at Paris but the results were not encouraging:
Spain immediately declined because it had just concluded a peace treaty with
Algiers and existing laws and practice compelled its respect “until the other
party should fail in their observance of it” and other small powers were
apparently favorable to such a league but were apprehensive that France might
interfere against it, so they wanted guarantees from Vergennes. 154
As already discussed, the commissioners had approached Vergennes
about a year before offering gracious services for joining the French in a
would-be war against Algiers but were rebuffed. Now Jefferson was cautious
about reviving the subject of collaboration with France because, according to
him, he “did not think it proper to insinuate any doubt of the fair conduct of his
government.” 155 He therefore adopted a circuitous way to satisfy the exigencies
of his would-be petty allies and obtained an answer which he interpreted as an
assent of Vergennes. In that way, the novice American minister surpassed the
master of diplomacy in intrigue and treachery. Jefferson’s conduct, however,
153 Jefferson, Memoir, 1:53-4.
154 Ibid., 1:54. Those included Portugal, three of the Italian city-states, and Malta—all centuries-old
enemies of Algiers.
155 Ibid.
291