Franklin and John Adams to the President of Congress
LS: National Archives; copies: Harvard University Library, South
Carolina Historical Society (two); transcript: National Archives
<Passy, July 23, 1778: We are informed by the Count de Vergennes
that the British cabinet plans to offer independence to
the United States if it will make a separate peace. M. de Vergennes
requests us to inform Congress that war between Britain
and France, though not formally declared, is considered as
having begun with the mutual withdrawal of ambassadors and
hence the treaty with the United States is in full force. He
expects Congress’s answer will be the same should a separate
peace be proposed. We have expressed the opinion that you
will unhesitatingly give such an answer even though you may
not have been informed that war has begun and the treaty
become binding.>
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