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

egency, or from the misconduct of our commercial vessels navigating in the
Mediterranean sea.” 3 Therefore, he recommended ‘compliance’ with the terms
of the treaty and sought to minimize future problems by having a permanent
consul at Algiers. 4 Richard O’Brien was the first American Consul-General
appointed to the Barbary States; he also acted as consul to Algiers.
In fact, the uneasiness which characterized diplomatic relations between
Algiers and the United States started four months after the conclusion of the
treaty of 1795. As already seen, the problems over payments were a source of
many troubles for both Algiers and the United States. Soon, other problems
became a threat to peaceful relations between the two countries. When O’Brien
arrived at Algiers in January 1798, he found that the reputation of the United
States was very low. That situation resulted primarily from United States
failure to deliver the naval stores stipulated by the treaty of 1795.The conduct
of fraudulent trade in the Mediterranean by Americans shippers in which the
American envoys to Algiers Joseph Donaldson and Joel Barlow were involved
did not ease maters and caused much indignation at Algiers. 5
O’Brien who was well-knowledgeable about Mediterranean realities—
he passed over 10-years prisoner at Algiers—recommended that the United
States honor its treaty. 6 But at the United States, other concerns were at hand;
cabinet upheavals and move of the capital to Washington caused sufficient
3 ASP/FA, 2:65, Message to Senate and House of Representatives, June 23, 1797.
4 Ibid.
5 NDBW, 1:240, O’Brien to David Humphreys, March 1, 1798. The incidents involving the Eliza, an
American vessel which engaged in dishonest trade, and the Fortune, an Algerian vessel which carried
the freed prisoners to Marseille, were the source of many tensions. For details see Allison, The
Crescent Obscured, pp. 157-60.
6 NDBW, 1:243, O’Brien to David Humphreys, March 6, 1798.
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