TO THE FRENCH MINISTER (EDMOND CHARLES GENET) J. MSS. - Thomas Jefferson, The Works, vol. 8 (Correspondence 1793-1798) [1905]
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The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Federal Edition (New York and London, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904-5). Vol. 8
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TO THE FRENCH MINISTER
(EDMOND CHARLES GENET)J. MSS.
[September 15, 1793.]
Sir,—
The correspondence which has taken place between the Executive and yourself, & the acts which you have thought proper to do, & to countenance, in opposition to the laws of the land, have rendered it necessary in the opinion of the President to lay a faithful statement of them before the government of France, to explain to them the reasons & the necessity which have dictated our measures, to renew the assurances of that sincere friendship which has suffered no intermission during the course of these proceedings, and to express our extreme anxiety that none may be produced on their part. This has accordingly been directed to be done by the Min. Pleny. of the U S at Paris, in a letter a copy of which I now enclose to you; and, in order to bring to an end what cannot be permitted to continue, there could be no hesitation to declare in it the necessity of their having a representative here disposed to respect the laws and authorities of the country, & to do the best for their interest which these would permit. An anxious regard for those interests, and a desire that they may not suffer, will induce the executive in the meantime to receive your communications in writing, & to admit the continuance of your functions so long as they shall be restrained within the limits of the law as heretofore announced to you, or shall be of the tenor usually observed towards independent nations by the representative of a friendly power residing with them.
The President thought it respectful to your nation as well as yourself to leave to yourself the restraining certain proceedings of the Consuls of France within the U S, which you were informed were contrary to the laws of the land, & therefore not to be permitted. He has seen with regret however that you have been far from restraining these proceedings, & that the duty has devolved on him of suppressing them by the authority of the country. I enclose to you the copy of a letter written to the several Consuls & Vice-consuls of France, warning them that this will be done if any repetition of these acts shall render it necessary. To the Consul of France at Boston, no such letter has been written. A more serious fact is charged on him, which if proved as there is reason to expect, will render the revocation of his Exequatur an act of immediate duty.
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