The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American
Commissioners
LS: American Philosophical Society, Harvard University Library;
copies: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Library of Congress;
copy and transcript: National Archives
<York, May 14, 1778: All goes well with us, and we are preparing
for either war or peace. Our enemies have fostered doubt
about our perseverance, but the enclosed report of Congressional
action in rejecting British overtures will, when published
in Europe, show that our politics are based on integrity
and fortitude. To preserve the union with France, so happily
begun, we call your attention to Articles 11 and 12 of the treaty
of amity and commerce: we fear that the second will be detrimental
to that union, and you will be authorized to procure its
abandonment in return for our abandoning Article 11. Congress
has unanimously ratified both treaties in confidence that
amendments will be negotiated. It has also issued a proclamation
to restrain the misconduct of commanders of our
armed vessels, and we hope that quarrels over prizes will diminish
now that France has so magnanimously reimbursed the
owners of those prizes that were returned.>
629810 = 026-448b.html