THE NORTHEAST COAST FISHERIES 481 



In addition to the obstacles in the way of a probable reten- 

 tion of full fishing rights already mentioned, others of a 

 most serious character suddenly presented themselves from 

 an unexpected source. France had given to the struggling 

 colonists not only moral support, but that substantial and 

 material aid without which a successful issue of the war for 

 independence would have been next to impossible. American 

 friendship for France was sincere and profound. Confidence 

 in her motives was without suspicion and undisturbed by 

 doubt. American gratitude recognized the full measure of 

 obligation due to an act of disinterested beneficence and 

 kindness. In the progress of efforts toward peace, the 

 disagreeable and startling fact became apparent that our 

 ally entertained some schemes of self-interest hardly com- 

 patible with the generous motives which had been originally 

 ascribed to her. Traces of French reserve in the proposed 

 adjustment of questions growing out of the war were 

 first detected in the matter of the fisheries ; but the benefit 

 of presumed innocence was for some time accorded to the 

 action of the French Government, and its motives were 

 ascribed to the accomplishment of ends not prejudicial 

 to American interests. It subsequently came to light, 

 however, that Count de Vergennes, the astute Minister of 

 State at Paris, had carefully mapped out a course of action 

 relating to the fisheries, in the event of American indepen- 

 dence, which looked to the enjoyment of a monopoly of this 

 valuable industry by France and Spain to the entire exclu- 

 sion of the Americans. This seemingly inconsistent attitude 

 of the French premier toward his ally across the ocean may 

 be fully understood when considered in connection with the 

 grand scheme he had planned for so shaping the destinies 

 of the new republic as to hold them permanently under 

 French influence. The people of America were to have 

 "liberty," of course, but liberty under French domination. 

 In no event did he propose to permit the growth of the new 

 nation to interfere with the interests of his own country, it 

 being his intention, on the contrary, to train his protege into 

 a subservient and useful ally of France. According to De 



