Title
[Document, 1785 July 04]
Library Location
Format
correspondence
Digital Project
Papers of John Jay
Date
July 04, 1785
Language
English
Physical Description
39 pages
Subjects
United States--History--1783-1865; Jay, John, 1745-1829
Summary
Franco-American consular convention: much discretion given the minister plenipotentiary in making the treaty. Title should read "U.S. of North America" to include all the states which might be added in the future. Form of presentation of commission changed. Article on nationality of consuls omitted. Article on chapel in the consul's home omitted. Not reciprocal since the Protestant religion has no protection in France. In cargo cases the consul is given jurisdiction over foreigners as well as their own people and allows even consular agents in certain cases to settle damages. Consuls authorized to send vessels back, arrest captains, masters and passengers. article on subjection of alien to foreign laws too short to be explicit. Only the certificate of the consul made the proof of nationality. Also precludes the possibility of naturalization. Article added providing for the exchange of ratifications. The American minister was openly instructed not to go beyond the scheme of a convention. Three objects promoted by the treaty which the U.S. has no interest in promoting: 1. to provide against infractions of French and American laws of trade; 2. to prevent migration of one people to the territory of the other; 3. to establish in each country an influential corps of officers to promote mercantile and political views. Intelligence can be communicated and men and measures influenced by this corps. No reciprocity of admission of U.S.
Identifier
columbia.jay.05087