TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS,
Translation.
Philadelphia, May 22d, 1779.
Sir,
The Minister Plenipotentiary of France, not having been hitherto informed by Congress of the result of their deliberations upon the important overtures, which have formed for more than three months the constant subject of his representations, has reason to presume, that the resolutions relative to them have not yet been passed. Delays, so long and so unnatural, in a matter so clear, and in a juncture which requires so much celerity, and which so essentially concerns the United States, have rendered the undersigned apprehensive lest some doubt had arisen, either as to the main point of the matter, or as to the manner of proceeding, or as to the dispositions and views of the King; and as the said Minister is instructed to conceal from Congress nothing that can be useful to the interests of the United States, he asks permission to submit to them the summary of the most essential things, which seemed to him to deserve attention in the further course of its deliberations.
It is well known, that the direct and essential object of the alliance, which subsists between his Most Christian Majesty and the United States, is to maintain effectually the liberty, the sovereignty, and the independence, absolute and unlimited, of the said States, as well with respect to government as to commerce, and consequently, the territorial rights belonging to sovereignty. To this object all the efforts and proceedings of the King are constantly tending. It is in order to attain it, and to procure for the people of America the power of this valuable independence, and the cessation of the evils and dangers under which an active and obstinate war makes them groan, that his Majesty has undertaken a difficult and expensive war against England, without any view of personal interest, and even with the refusal of the advantages which the United States appeared ready to grant him. He has already given brilliant proofs, that his friendship does not confine itself to the mere fulfilment of his engagements. He is in fact disposed to give to the United States all the assistance compatible with the situation of his own affairs, and with the general state of things, and he regards the interests of the United States as his own, in everything that relates to the object of the alliance, and that is conformable to the invariable principles on which his reciprocal connexions with the United States are founded. It is in consequence of his attention to execute literally the treaty of alliance, that he has not lost a moment in informing Congress of the overtures relative to the projected pacification, in entreating them to take without delay that part in this negotiation, which the dignity and interests of the United States require. He has moreover repeated to Congress the promise, that he would not treat with the common enemy, without making it a primary and essential condition, that the independence of the United States should be acknowledged, conformably to the stipulations of the treaty of alliance. His Majesty has at the same time ordered his Minister Plenipotentiary to lay before Congress some considerations relative to the state of affairs, and particularly to observe to them, that the alliance, unless victorious, cannot dictate terms to the common enemy. The undersigned has executed these orders either verbally or in writing.
It is evident then, that his Majesty desires only the tranquillity and prosperity of America, upon the foundation of an honorable and firm peace, conformable to the stipulations of the treaty of alliance. He rejects every idea of conquest and acquisition of territory for himself. In order promptly to attain this advantageous object, and to fulfil his engagements, he is disposed to carry on the war with vigor, if the common enemy refuses the pacific system, which his Majesty has announced to the whole world, and which the United States adopted on signing the alliance. But in case that the perseverance of the Court of London in the desire to subdue, or to conquer America, should prolong the calamities of the war, his Majesty will consider himself at liberty to concert with the United States all the further measures adapted to this new order of things, and conformably to the mutual interests of the allies and of the common cause. It is thus that the King fulfils, and proposes to fulfil, the duties resulting from Articles 1st and 8th of the treaty of alliance, by urging on one side the United States to participate in the negotiation, which can conduct to the conclusion of a truce and of a peace, by making common cause with the said States, and on the other side, by enabling the two allies mutually to assist each other by their good offices, their councils, and their forces, as circumstances may require; in fine, by showing his perseverance, conformably to Article 8th, in the resolution not to lay down arms till independence shall have been formally or tacitly acknowledged. But as this last stipulation limits his Majesty's engagements on this subject to the very time of this acknowledgment, if England immediately agrees to this essential condition, his Most Christian Majesty will have fulfilled all his positive and direct engagements in relation to the conclusion of peace.
It follows from these observations,
1st. That the King has engaged to procure for the United States, by means of arms, the acknowledgment of their independence, and that his Majesty is faithful to fulfil this obligation, and even disposed to lend them assistance, to which he is not obliged by the treaty.