LUZERNE.
COMMUNICATIONS OF THE FRENCH MINISTER TO CONGRESS.
In Congress, September 21st, 1781.
The committee, to whom was referred the Memorial of the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, dated the 18th instant, requesting a conference, report,
That they have this day held a conference with the said Minister Plenipotentiary, and received the following communications contained in sundry despatches from Count de Vergennes, Minister for Foreign Affairs to his Most Christian Majesty, viz.
From a letter of the 19th of April.—That Count de Vergennes had transmitted to the Minister the details respecting the proposed mediation of the Courts of Vienna and Petersburg. The Minister observed, that this had already been communicated to Congress through a committee. He repeated, for our recollection, that the acceptance on the part of France of the proposed mediation depended entirely, at that time, on the concurrence of the United States; and that with respect to Spain, its conduct would be determined by the dissolution of the negotiation with Mr Cumberland. That the Court of Spain had informed the Court of London, on the first proposal of the mediation of the Imperial Courts, that as a direct negotiation with the King of Great Britain was opened through Mr Cumberland, a mediation was unnecessary.
That affairs since that time had taken a different turn. Mr Cumberland has been recalled; and the Catholic King, being now entirely at liberty, has accepted the mediation of the two Imperial Courts. That the King, our ally, had done the same; but that both Kings had declared at the same time to the two mediators, that the mediation could not possibly have any activity, without previously establishing some fundamental preliminaries. Of this observation the two mediating Courts had already felt the propriety. That France was then (viz. the 19th of April) expecting the effect, which this communication would produce on the Court of London. That the first question proposed by France, related to the admission of an American Plenipotentiary; and that the object of the second was to know, upon what footing the King of England intended to treat with the United States. The Court of France, not knowing that the United States had agreed to accept the mediation, again invite us to it.
The Minister here observed, that Congress would judge by the questions proposed to the mediating powers, by the King his master, of the principles, by which his Majesty was actuated with respect to the United States. He assured us, that his Majesty is invariably resolved to abide by those principles, and will enter into no negotiation whatever before he shall receive a satisfactory solution of those two questions. He added, that the French Ministry trusted, that this conduct would more and more convince the United States, and would cause them to imitate the example of the King, and to feel that their honor and their interest call for their constant attachment, their friendship, and unreserved confidence towards him.
The Count de Vergennes observes, that it is plain from these circumstances, that the negotiation for peace will be full of difficulties, and that it will probably be necessary, in pretensions as well as proceedings, to be very cautious, and to act so as to remove those difficulties, and everything, which might increase the acrimony, to which the English Plenipotentiaries may be naturally inclined.
From another letter of the same date.—That when this letter was written, the Court had received information of the sentiments of the Court of London with respect to the United States. The Count de Vergennes mentions, that in the act, by which the Court of London accepts the mediation of Russia, and requests the mediation of the Emperor, she declares, that she is ready to make peace, as soon as the league between France and her revolted subjects shall be dissolved. That this pretension had met from the Court of France the contempt which it deserved. She on her part has declared, that if this proposition contained the last determination of England, it would be in vain to think of peace; and she has desired the English Ministry to give a positive answer on the two questions above mentioned. That this declaration had been exactly transmitted by the Court of Vienna to that of London; and the result of the answer made by that Court to the Imperial Majesty is, "that in all points to be agitated in a future Congress, England will behave with great equity and condescension; but the dependence of her rebel subjects in America must be pre-established, and that this matter must be left entirely to the care of Great Britain." That it is easily to be perceived, that while things remain in this situation there can be no possibility of a mediation or peace.