The Chevalier de la Luzerne takes the liberty of renewing his solicitations respecting the money to be paid to the heirs of Messrs De Kalb and De la Radière, and also respecting the reasons, which have suspended the payment of the interest on different classes of certificates.
LUZERNE.
VERBAL COMMUNICATION OF THE FRENCH MINISTER TO THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
In Congress, May 28th, 1782.
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs laid before Congress the following verbal communication made to Mr Livingston.
The Minister of his Most Christian Majesty has the honor to inform Mr Livingston of several particulars relative to the negotiation, that the Court of London appeared disposed to open in Europe. The first steps were taken under the former administration. This remark is essential, because it is possible that the new Ministers may take others more decisive; or it is equally possible, that they may entirely change the system, and continue the war still longer.
Emissaries have been sent to Paris and to the Hague, to sound, on the one hand, Mr John Adams, in the hope that his connexion with some independent members might facilitate an accommodation; and, on the other side, in the hope that very advantageous offers might seduce his Majesty, and engage him to make a separate peace to abandon his allies. The Chevalier de la Luzerne is not informed of the steps that have been taken at Madrid, or by the States General.
The proposition made secretly to France tended to a partial peace. It offered France the possession of their conquests in the West Indies, the suppression of an English Commissary at Dunkirk, and advantages in the East Indies. These offers were certainly satisfactory to his Majesty; and he would have had no reason to reject them if he had had no allies. But his engagements marked out another line of conduct. He replied, that how sincerely soever he was disposed to peace, he would commence no negotiations to this end without the participation of his allies. The emissary easily comprehended, that this answer related as well to the United States as to Spain; and pretended that the condition was inadmissible; that England, in treating upon this foundation, would acknowledge the independence of her colonies, which made no part of her system. The Minister of his Majesty replied, that their independence was considered by the King as an indispensable point, and that it made the basis of his system.
The English Agent then demanded, if there were no means to avoid treating with us of the affairs of America. The Count de Vergennes replied, by referring him to the answer given to the first overtures of pacification made by the mediators, and communicated to Mr Livingston.