FRANCE AND AMERICA

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 64, 17 March 1933, Page 7

FRANCE AND AMERICA

PEEVIOTJS DEBT DISPUTE

RELATIONS SEVERED

When a century ago the United States and France had difficulties over payment of the French debt in relation to the spoliation claims, diplomatic relations were.broken off, J)ut. no such consequences are looked for in the present impasse. This controversy of 100 years ago was referred to by Premier Herriot in his speech before the Chamber of Deputies in Paris urging payment of tho French war debt, but it was a passing reference, says the "New York Times."

It has long been settled American policy not to employ force in the collection of debts, but when the fiery Andrew Jackson was President of the tnited States and Louis Philippe was King of France, .American policy was not so well settled. However, then as now, the United States Congress and the French Chamber of Deputies had control of the purse string of «bvernmont. France had agreed by a treaty negotiated in 1831, and ratified the next year, to pay in six instalments a total of 25,000,000 francs to indemnify Americans.for ships seized by Napoleon I, but when the French Chamber refused to vote the appropriation for the first instalment in 1833, President Jackson in his annual message to Congress m December, 1834, urged reprisals. He recommended "that a law be passed authorising reprisals upon French projpcrty" m case the debt was not paid. SENATE BALKS. .The Senate under the influence of Henry Clay, and the House by the persuasion of John Quincy Adams, refused .to go this far. The Senate adopted a resolution that it was "inexpedient at present to adopt any legislative measures'' for the purpose, and the- House, m a resolution said preparations ought' to be made for any emergency but failed to pass a Bill for military expenses. Although King Louis Philippe pledged his utmost efforts, to bring about payment, , the Presidential message threw the Chamber of Deputies into an uproar and brought declarations that the money would not be paid before President Jackson apologised. Edward Livingston, formerly Secretary of State, was Minister to France and used all his powers to calm the disturbed waters. He argued that the President in reporting to Congress was exercising a domestic, function, but the French Government intimated' to Mr. Livingston that if he would ask for his passports they would be granted. He replied that he would leave France only if instructed by Washington or if expelled. So he remained, but eventually left by authorisation of President Jackson. Then the French Minister was .withdrawn from the United States,_ severing diplomatic relations. President Jackson refused in his annual message in December, 1835, to retract his aspersions on Franco, and Great Britain then offered to mediate the controversy, but in January, 1536, President Jackson in a messagcto Congress, while again calling for reprisals, denied any "intention to menace or insult the Government of France,'-1 and maintained that no foreign Power could reasonably take offence at- utterances of _ the President to his own people. This left-handed apology was considered sufficient by France, the Chamber of Deputies voted the appropriations, diplomatic relations were resumed, and the incident was ended. A SUMMARY. J. C. Bancroft Davis, while Assistant Secretary of State in 1873, prepared for the State Department a historical summary of the controversy. After a inference to the wars of the French Empire and violations of neutral rights at sea, Mr. Davis's summary of the, situation between France and the United States a century asro said in part:— "The mercantile marine of the United States suffered greatly from arbitrary orders' and decrees. "When peace was restored and a settled Government was established in France, the United States made reclamations for these classes of citizens.

• France met them by counter-claims. It was asserted that by the terms of the Eight Article of tlie treaty ■for tho cession of Louisiana the snips of Franco were to bo treated upon the footing of the most-fav-oured nation in the ports of tho ceded country, but that the vessels of England wero enjoying favours hero which were denied to the vessels of France. _ The negotiations on these two points continued for over ten years. The United States struggled to separate them, but France refused to consider the claims apart from the alleged violation of the treaty of 1803, or to abandon her position respecting that treaty. Ponding these negotiations tho commercial treaty of 1822 was concluded.

"At length, it was agreed to dcternnno both questions in. the treaty 20.000.000 francs in full satisfaction ot the 'American, claims; the United States was to .pay 1,500,000 francs in satisfaction of certain French claims; the United States was to reduce the duties on French wines; and Franco m consideration of the latter agreement, was to relinquish its claims and reclamatyns respecting the Eighth Article of tho treaty of cession of Louisiana.

'The ratifications of this convention were exchanged on 2nd February, 1532 ana on the 13 th of the fololwing July Congress passed au Act to carry it into effect." , *'