Dumas to the American Commissioners
AL: American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijks- archief
<The Hague, June 27[-30], in French: I have written the Grand
Pensionary that the treaty has arrived, and the Grand Facteur
has approved my letter. June 28: The Grand Pensionary has
set our interview for tomorrow morning. Last night came your
packet of the 22nd, which I devoured with interest. I could not
avoid the interview, having asked for it, but shall only let the
treaty be read. June 29: I was politely received. He asked me
to leave the treaty with him but, on my explaining my position,
did not insist. There must be secret articles, he said; I disclaimed
knowledge of any. When he pointed out that the treaty
does not acknowledge independence, I replied that acknowledgement
was implicit. He spoke of his high regard for Mr.
Franklin and, guardedly, of his pleasure in the Franco-American
rapprochement. I offered to show him the treaty as
often as he wished, but he found that unnecessary. He seemed
upset at being unable to show it to the Prince, who would then
have shown it to Yorke, etc. June 30: The States meet tomorrow.
Amsterdam, I am told, has borrowed three million florins—
so much the less for Britain to get its hands on.>
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