3157. FRANCE, Neutral rights and.—[continued].
You have seen that the
French Directory had published an arret declaring
they would treat as pirates any neutrals
they should take in the ships of their
enemies. The President [Adams] communicated
this to Congress as soon as he received
it. A bill was brought into the Senate
reciting that arret, and authorizing retaliation.
The President received information
almost the same instant that the Directory
had suspended the arret (which fact was
privately declared by the Secretary of State
to two of the Senate), and, though it was
known we were passing an act founded on
that arret, yet the President has never communicated
the suspension.—
To Archibald Stuart. Washington ed. iv, 286.
Ford ed., vii, 353.
(Pa.,
Feb. 1799)
