The British Secretary of State informed them that the project of the commercial treaty contained political articles which must be deleted; as he would not further elaborate, they drew up a new project with fewer articles. In this new draft they have excluded a provision that American built ships should enjoy equal status with British built ships in the imperial trade; this omission is due to their feeling that it would not be agreed to, and that no party in England would support the request. Portuguese treaty nears completion. They enclose extracts of some correspondence. Treaty with Turkey cannot be negotiated in time.
Subjects
United States--History--1783-1865; Jay, John, 1745-1829