細節
[X,Y,Z AFFAIR]. PICKERING, TIMOTHY, Secretary of State. Autograph letter signed as Secretary of State, TO RUFUS KING, Minister to Great Britain, "State Department," Philadelphia, 6 April 1797. 4 pages, folio.
PICKERING TO KING ON THE DIPLOMATIC CRISIS WITH FRANCE
A important diplomatic communique written at the height of the diplomatic crisis with France, known as the "X,Y,Z Affair," instigated by France's treatment of the U.S. minister (Charles Coatesworth Pinckney). France, offended by the treaty recently concluded with Great Britian, had issued decrees against American shipping and refused to receive Pinckney; outraged reaction in the U.S. nearly brought the two young Republics to war. Pickering passes on general diplomatic news, then writes: "The conduct of the French Government in refusing to receive General Pinckney, or any minister from the United States, until the injuries stated are redressed, has determined the President to convene Congress, at as early a day as was deemed particable...the declaration of the Directory is somewhat remarkable -- they will not receive another "minister plenipotentiary" until...[A]re we to be told hereafter that this was not intended to exclude all diplomatic intercourse, and that they will receive an envoy extraordinary, or an ambassador? Such an interpretation has been suggested: but any government would be dishonored by such a quibbling distinction...." He goes on to discuss the French Directory's "condemnation of American vessels for want of Sea-letters," which Pinckney has written about, "whence we may conclude that it is part of their system of unexampled aggression against a neutral power and their ally. All our accounts from the West Indies show that the French piracies are there continued, and with increasing abuse and outrage of our citizens....[T]hey have weaned us from our attachment to France..." France's actions have convinced Americans that "the French have other views than those avowed at an early period of their Revolution," and they are now fully ready "to support their own government in...such measures as the honor, safety and welfare of our country shall require..." He goes on to write of affairs in Vermont: "the arms & cannon captured...with General Ira Allen & carried into England...It is incredible that Genl. Allen should undertake to purchase 20,000 muskets and 24 brass cannon...for the militia of Vermont..." He goes on to tell of a land swindle perpetrated by Allen and speculate on his motives in purchasing the seized munitions.
PICKERING TO KING ON THE DIPLOMATIC CRISIS WITH FRANCE
A important diplomatic communique written at the height of the diplomatic crisis with France, known as the "X,Y,Z Affair," instigated by France's treatment of the U.S. minister (Charles Coatesworth Pinckney). France, offended by the treaty recently concluded with Great Britian, had issued decrees against American shipping and refused to receive Pinckney; outraged reaction in the U.S. nearly brought the two young Republics to war. Pickering passes on general diplomatic news, then writes: "The conduct of the French Government in refusing to receive General Pinckney, or any minister from the United States, until the injuries stated are redressed, has determined the President to convene Congress, at as early a day as was deemed particable...the declaration of the Directory is somewhat remarkable -- they will not receive another "minister plenipotentiary" until...[A]re we to be told hereafter that this was not intended to exclude all diplomatic intercourse, and that they will receive an envoy extraordinary, or an ambassador? Such an interpretation has been suggested: but any government would be dishonored by such a quibbling distinction...." He goes on to discuss the French Directory's "condemnation of American vessels for want of Sea-letters," which Pinckney has written about, "whence we may conclude that it is part of their system of unexampled aggression against a neutral power and their ally. All our accounts from the West Indies show that the French piracies are there continued, and with increasing abuse and outrage of our citizens....[T]hey have weaned us from our attachment to France..." France's actions have convinced Americans that "the French have other views than those avowed at an early period of their Revolution," and they are now fully ready "to support their own government in...such measures as the honor, safety and welfare of our country shall require..." He goes on to write of affairs in Vermont: "the arms & cannon captured...with General Ira Allen & carried into England...It is incredible that Genl. Allen should undertake to purchase 20,000 muskets and 24 brass cannon...for the militia of Vermont..." He goes on to tell of a land swindle perpetrated by Allen and speculate on his motives in purchasing the seized munitions.