Title
[Document, 1782 November 30]
Library Location
Format
correspondence
Digital Project
Papers of John Jay
Date
November 30, 1782
Language
English
Physical Description
9 pages
Subjects
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783; Jay, John, 1745-1829
Summary
Provisional articles of peace, agreed upon between Richard Oswald of Great Britain and John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and Henry Laurens of the United States. Treaty not finished until Great Britain makes peace with France. Article 1. Great Britain acknowledges sovereignty and independence of named states and relinquishes all claim to governmental and territorial rights. Article 2. Exact boundaries described. Article 3. Fishing rights secured for United States in Newfoundland, Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic Ocean and in unsettled areas of Nova Scotia. Article 4. Creditors of both sides to receive payments of lawful debts. Article 5. Congress to recommend to state legislatures the restitution of confiscated property of British subjects and those in British-controlled territory who had not fought against the United States, All others allowed to go to any state for one year in order to obtain restitution of property. Congress to recommend to the states the restitution of such property and the reimbursement of those who had since bought the confiscated property. Article 6. No future confiscations or prosecutions against people because of their role in the present war. Those confined on those charges to be set free immediately upon ratification. Article 7. Hostilities between both sides to cease immediately; prisoners set free and British troops and ships to withdraw without "any destruction or carrying away [of] any Negroes or other property of the American inhabitants." All documents, records, deeds and papers of American citizens to be returned to their proper owner. Article 8. Navigation of the Mississippi River to remain open to United States and Great Britain. Article 9. Any territory conquered by either side before the peace treaty reaches America will be restored without need of compensation. Separate article. Redrawing of one boundary if Great Britain should regain control of West Florida.
Identifier
columbia.jay.04402