QUESTION SIX. 93 



The resentment of the United States at the attitude taken by 

 France on the question was indicated by Mr. Gallatin in the conclud- 

 ing paragraph of his note, which was as follows: 



That conciliatory means should be found which may be consistent 

 with the exercise of its rights, is the earnest desire of the Government 

 of the United States, as well as of that of France. It has already 

 been explicitly stated that the forcible means to which she has re- 

 sorted are an aggression on those rights. And she will neither com- 

 mit her own or injure the interests of her subjects, in abstaining, 

 with every necessary reservation, from similar proceedings, until a 

 satisfactory arrangement shall have taken place. 



Notwithstanding the statement of the French Government that its 

 Charge at Washington had been directed to explain to the Govern- 

 ment of the United States the French position on the subject of its 

 claim to an exclusive right of fishery, no further explanation was 

 ever made. It appears from an entry in Mr. Adams' diary, under 

 date of July 8, 1823, that the French Charge had informed him on 

 that day that he was still without final instructions on the subject; 

 and Mr. Adams told him that the question was really one between 

 France and Great Britain, with which the United States had but a 

 secondary concern, because, if Great Britain had conceded to the 

 United States a right which already had been granted as an ex- 

 clusive possession to France, Great Britain must indemnify the 

 United States for it. 6 



The contention of the United States con-firmed l>y Great Britain. 



Meanwhile the promised explanations not having been received 

 from France, Mr. Adams wrote on June 27, 1823, to Mr. Rush, the 

 American Minister at London, informing him of that fact, and of the 

 necessity of bringing the situation to the attention of the British 

 Government, explaining that, although the questions involved inter- 

 ested and concerned Great Britain not less than the United States, 

 the reason why the President had determined in the first instance to 

 address the complaint of the United States to the French Government 

 alone was in order to give that Government an opportunity of dis- 

 owning the objectionable acts of its naval officers, and of disclaiming 

 any pretences to an exclusive fishing right at the places where those 



U. S. Counter-Case Appendix, p. 117. 

 6 U. S. Counter-Case Appendix, p. 626. 



