4thly. The Congress has given very great satisfaction to the Court of France, by the timely and spirited step, which was taken to disavow a certain ill-grounded and pernicious doctrine, relating to the mutual obligations of the allies, to conclude no truce or peace without the knowledge or consent of each other. The Court of France is of opinion, that this doctrine could only be maintained by those men, whose aim it was by any means to weaken the ties of the alliance, and to create disgust and diffidence between the allies.
5thly. The Court has received with some surprise the intelligence, that Congress has published the treaties concluded with it, without the previous knowledge and consent of the party interested. It is not to be denied, that such a proceeding is but little consistent with reason, and with the general practice of Courts and nations. Nevertheless, this observation involves not any kind of reproach, but the King thinks, that so noble and generous a system of politics could but produce desirable effects by its publication.
6thly. The intelligence, that in the first month of last winter there were no adequate preparations made in America towards a vigorous and successful campaign, was received at Versailles with all the concern, which the danger of the United States and the prolongation of the present contest can create in the most friendly mind. The Court of France is fully in the opinion, that the exertions of the United States are necessary to bring the common enemy to a proper sense of all the disappointments which he shall meet with.
7thly. The Court, being desirous to acquaint Congress exactly with the state of affairs relating to the common cause, would not delay to inform this honorable body, that the Court of London, showing on one side dispositions to a reconciliation with France, rejects on the other side the very idea of a formal and explicit acknowledgment of the independence of the United States, which his Most Christian Majesty perseveres to hold up as a preliminary and essential condition. The behavior of the common enemy in this respect rendered a great deal more probable the conjecture, which was communicated to Congress some time ago, that the point of honor and pride of the King of England will be the greatest obstacle to the conclusion of peace upon those explicit terms; and perhaps the manner of overcoming this difficulty will of course become the most decisive object of the deliberations of Congress, when this honorable body shall determine to make peace, whatever middle way may be hit upon, that England shall treat with the United States as with a free people, and evacuate immediately all the territories belonging to them.
NO. II.
The Substance of what the Minister said at the Conference in explanation of the several Articles in the foregoing Paper, entitled "ad statum legendi," as reported by the Committee.
Article 1. From the bills and accounts with which Congress have been furnished by M. de Beaumarchais, Congress will be enabled to distinguish those articles which were drawn from the royal magazines, and those which he supplied in the way of trade. For these last, Congress will without doubt make remittances to M. de Beaumarchais in their own way, to enable him to perform the contracts he has entered into as a merchant. That for the former articles, the King, his master, taking upon himself to be creditor to the United States, would wait until Congress shall find it convenient to make compensation.
Article 2. Though his Court had not resolved to retaliate upon the prisoners taken by the common enemy, yet for the reasons assigned, the King, his master, had assented to the proposal. But in carrying this matter into execution it would be proper to take such precautions, and to give such orders to the Captains, or other persons employed in this business, that it may be managed with prudence.
Article 3. There is every reason to believe, that Congress will very soon receive proofs of the confidence, which his Court was always willing to show to the servants of these States. The personal character of Dr Franklin will enable the Court to act with a frankness becoming the alliance, and they will have no occasion to withhold any more the secrets which may interest the United States and the alliance.
Article 4. The King, his master, after this explicit step, relies with the highest confidence upon the candor and faithfulness of Congress, in understanding as well as in executing the treaty, and in rejecting every arbitrary and unnatural interposition or construction, which false, subtle, or designing men can contrive. Congress by their own feelings must be sensible, that such interpretations and constructions are always hurtful, against common decency and dignity, and may oftentimes endanger mutual confidence, and of course the very existence of a treaty. But the sense Congress has manifested in this particular affair gives his Court the greatest hopes, that there will be no further motive for the painful reflections, which that affair gave rise to.