1778. fection, as also his desire to consolidate the union and good corFebruary 6. respondence established between the two states, has been pleased to consider their representations: his majesty has consequently declared, and does declare by these presents, that he consents to the suppression of the eleventh and twelfth aforementioned articles, and that his intention is, that they be considered as having never been comprehended in the treaty signed the sixth of February last. Act of the U.S. rescinding the original articles 11 and 12. Done at Versailles the first day of the month of September, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight. GRAVIER DE VERGENNES. ACT OF THE U. STATES RESCINDING THE AFOREGOING ARTICLES. Original. DECLARATION. The most christian king having been pleased to regard the representations made to him by the general congress of North America, relative to the eleventh article of the treaty of commerce, signed the sixth of February in the present year; and his majesty having therefore consented that the said article should be suppressed, on condition that the twelfth article of the same treaty be equally regarded as of none effect; the general congress hath declared, and do declare on their part, that they consent to the suppression of the eleventh and twelfth articles of the above mentioned treaty, and that their intention is, that these articles be regarded as having never been comprised in the treaty signed the sixth of February. In faith whereof, &c. B. FRANKLIN. NOTE. This treaty is no longer obligatory on the United States, being annulled, according to the following act, approved by President Adams, on the 6th of July, 1798. "AN ACT to declare the treaties heretofore concluded with France no longer obligatory on the United States. "Whereas the treaties concluded between the United States and France have been repeatedly violated on the part of the French government; and the just claims of the United States for reparation of injuries so committed have beeu refused; and their attempts to negotiate an amicable adjustment of all complaints, between the two nations, have been repelled with indignity; and whereas, under the authority of the French government, there is yet pursued against the United States a system of predatory violence infracting the said treaties, and hostile to the rights of a free and independent nation. "Sect. 1. Be it enacted, &c. That the United States are of right freed and exonerated from the stipulations of the treaties, and of the consular convention heretofore concluded between the United States and France; and that the same shall not henceforth be regarded as legally obligatory on the government or citizens of the United States." The other treaties, and the convention, referred to in the above act, will be duly noticed as they are inserted. 1778. Etats Unis de l'Amérique Septentrionale une nouvelle preuve de son affection, ainsi que de son désir de consolider l'union et February 6. la bonne correspondance établies entre les deux états, à bien voulu avoir égard à leurs représentations; en conséquence sa ma. jesté à déclaré et déclare par les présentes qu'elle consent à la suppression des articles onze et douze susmentionnes, et que été compris dans la traité signé le six Fevrier dernier. Fait à Versailles, le premier jour du mois de Septembre, mil sept cent soixante et dix huit. GRAVIER DE VERGENNES. ACT OF THE U. STATES RESCINDING THE FOREGOING ARTICLES. Translation. DECLARATION. Le roi très chrétien ayant bien voulu avoir égard aux représentations que lui a faites le congrès général de l'Amérique Septentrionale, relativement à l'article onze du traité de commerce, signé le six Fevrier de la presente année; et sa majesté ayant consenti en conséquence que le dit article demeurât supprimé à condition que l'article douze du même traité fût également régardé comme non avenu; le congrès général à déclaré et déclare de son côte qu'il consent à la suppression des articles onze et douze susmentionnes, et son intention est qu'ils soient regardé comme n'ayant jamais été compris dans le traité signé le six Fevrier dernier. En foi de quoi, &c. B. FRANKLIN, 1778. February 6. Treaty of alliance concluded No. 2.-Treaty of Alliance between the United States of America and His Most Christian Majesty. ORIGINAL. Treaty of Alliance. The most christian king and the United States of North to cement mu- America, to wit: New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode tual interests, Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and to guard against British Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carohostility toward lina and Georgia, having this day concluded a treaty of amity France. and commerce for the reciprocal advantage of their subjects and citizens, have thought it necessary to take into consideration the means of strengthening those engagements, and of rendering them useful to the safety and tranquillity of the two parties, particularly in case Great Britain in resentment of that connexion and of the good correspondence which is the object of the said treaty, should break the peace with France, either by direct hostilities, or by hindering her commerce and navigation in a manner contrary to the rights of nations, and the peace subsisting between the two crowns: and his majesty and the said United States, having resolved in that case to Councils and join their councils and efforts against the enterprises of their common enemy, the respective plenipotentiaries empowered to concert the clauses and conditions proper to fulfil the said intentions, have, after the most mature deliberation, conclud ed and determined on the following articles; efforts to be united. To make com mon cause; in case of war between France and G. Britain. States declared alliance. ART. 1. If war should break out between France and Great Britain during the continuance of the present war between the United States and England, his majesty and the said United States shall make it a common cause, and aid each other mutually with their good offices, their counsels and their forces, according to the exigence of conjunctures, as becomes good and faithful allies. The independART. 2. The essential and direct end of the present defenence of the U. sive alliance is to maintain effectually the liberty, sovereignto be the essen- ty, and independence absolute and unlimited, of the said Unit tial object of this ed States, as well in matters of government as of commerce. Each party at ART. 3. The two contracting parties shall each on its own liberty to pur- part, and in the manner it may judge most proper, make all thod of annoy- the efforts in its power against their common enemy, in order ing the common to attain the end proposed. sue its own me enemy. Both parties, in ART. 4. The contracting parties agree, that in case either any particular of them should form any particular enterprise in which the ORIGINAL. Traité d'Alliance Eventuelle et Defensive. Le roi très chrétien et les Etats Unis de l'Amérique Septentrionale, savoir, New-Hampshire, la Baye de Massachusset, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvanie, Delaware, Maryland, Virginie, Caroline Septentrio. nale, Caroline Méridionale, et Georgie; ayant conclu ce jourd'huy un traité d'amitié, de bonne intelligence et de commerce, pour l'avantage réciproque de leurs sujets et citoyens, ils ont cru devoir prendre en considération, les moyens de resserrer leurs liaisons, et de les rendre utiles à la sureté et à la tranquilité des deux parties, notament dans le cas où la Grande Bretagne, en haine de ces mêmes, liaisons et de la bonne correspondance qui forment l'objet du dit traité, se porteroit á rompre la paix avec la France, soit en l'attaquant hostilement, soit en troublant son commerce, et sa navigation, d'une manière contraire au droit des gens et à la paix subsistante entre les deux couronnes: et sa majesté et les dits Etats Unis ayant résolu éventuellement d'unir, dans le cas prévú, leurs conseils et leurs efforts contre les entreprises de leur ennemi commun, les plénipotentiares respectifs, chargés de concerter les clauses et conditions propres à remplir leurs intentions, ont, après la plus mure délibération, conclu et arrête les points et articles qui s'ensuivent. ART. 1. Si la guerre éclate entre la France et la Grande Bretagne, pendant la durée de la guerre actuelle entre les Etats Unis et l'Angleterre, sa majesté et les dits Etats Unis féront cause commune et s'entr'aideront mutuellement de leurs bons offices, de leurs conseils et de leurs forces, selon l'exigence des conjonctures, ainsi qu'il convient à de bons et fidèles alliés. ART. 2. Le but essentiel et direct de la présente alliance défensive, est de maintenir efficacement la liberté, la souve. raineté, et l'independance absoluë et illimitée des dits Etats Unis, tant en matière politique que de commerce. ART. 3. Les deux parties contractantes feront chacune de leur côte, et de la manière qu'elles jugeront plus convenable, tous les efforts, qui seront en leur pouvoir, contre leur ennemi commun, afin d'atteindre au but qu'elles se proposent. ART. 4. Les parties coutractantes sont convenuës que dans le cas ou l'une d'entre elles formeroit quelqu' entreprise par 1778. February 6. 1778. February 6. the amount and concurrence of the other may be desired, the party whose concurrence is desired, shall readily and with good faith, join to act in concert for that purpose, as far as circumstances and act in concert; its own particular situation will permit, and in that case, they kind of succour shall regulate, by a particular convention the quantity and to be regulated by convention. kind of succor to be furnished, and the time and manner of its being brought into action, as well as the advantages which are to be its compensation. The British N. American pos ART. 5. If the United States should think fit to attempt the sessious, or the reduction of the British powers, remaining in the northern Bermudas, if subdued, to be ports of America, or the islands of Bermudas, those countries long to the U. or islands, in case of success, shall be confederated with, or dependant upon the said United States. States. nounced by the and to the North All claim re- ART. 6. The most christian king renounces forever the posFrench king to session of the islands of Bermudas, as well as of any part of the Bermudas, the continent of North America, which, before the treaty of American colo- Paris in 1763, or in virtue of that treaty, were acknowledged nies, which pre- to belong to the crown of Great Britain, or to the United viously, or by the treaty of States,heretofore called the British colonies, or which are at this knowledged to time, or have lately been under the power of the king and belong to the crown of Great Britain. 1763, were ac British islands Mexican Gulf, British crown. ART. 7. If his most christian majesty shall think proper to in, or near, the attack any of the islands situated in the gulf of Mexico, or near that gulf, which are at present under the power of Great Britain, all the said isles, in case of success, shall appertain to the crown of France. if reduced, to appertain to the crown ofFrance Peace not to be concluded with. nor are either ART. 8. Neither of the two parties shall conclude either out the consent truce or peace with Great Britain, without the formal consent of both parties; of the other first obtained; and they mutually engage not to of the parties to lay down their arms until the independence of the United until the inde- States shall have been formally or tacitly assured, by the treapendence of the ty or treaties that shall terminate the war. lay down arms United States whatever may be achieved. ART. 9. The contracting parties declare, that being resolved No after claim to fulfil each on its own part, the clauses and conditions of the be the result of present treaty of alliance, according to its own power and circumstances, there shall be no after claim of compensation on one side or the other, whatever may be the event of the the war. war. ART. 10. The most christian king and the United States agree to invite or admit other powers who may have received injuries from England, to make common cause with them, and to accede to the present alliance, under such conditions as shall be freely agreed to, and settled between all the parties. |