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

3. A Fragile Peace: the Treaty of 1795 at Stake
3. 1. Insatiable Greed
Diplomatic relations between Algiers and the United States during the
period 1795-1812 is a long saga of American promises, lies, cheating, and
duplicity about payment and delivery of stores. In the long run, as the
American did not respect the agreed-on terms, the Deys—five of them ruled
during that period—lost patience, warned, threatened, at times repudiated the
treaty then backed up, and even went as far as to declare war on the United
States but the Americans remained unmovable. Cash payments were delayed;
stores were not partly-provided until some three years later after the treaty was
signed; and quarrels over quality, quantity, and delays became recurrent
themes. Meanwhile, American Mediterranean trade was expanding and making
more profits; American consuls and envoys at Algiers leagued with Jews in a
policy of cheating on the Deys; they also leagued with other Americans
representatives at European courts in the business of exporting Algerian wheat
even before the ink of the treaty was dry.
Lust for Indian lands, lust for Barbary trade, lust for profits; truly,
American greed is difficult to satisfy. Nothing seemed to be capable of
stopping Americans, merchants and diplomats alike, from rushing to the
Barbary Coast on the first rumor that a peace was concluded with Algiers.
Many ships loaded with salted fish (cod) were waiting at Gibraltar and at least
one, the Elisa, entered the Mediterranean before peace was secured. Barlow
complained about American shippers who according to him “would sail into
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