Through the whole Course of Our Reign, Our Conduct towards the States
General of the United Provinces has been that of a sincere Friend
and faithful Ally. Had they adhered to those wise Principles which
used to govern the Republic, they must have shewn themselves equally
sollicitous to maintain the Friendship which has so long subsisted
between the two Nations, and which is essential to the Interests of
both: But from the Prevalence of a Faction devoted to France, and
following the Dictates of that Court, a very different Policy has
prevailed. The Return made to Our Friendship, for some Time past, has
been an open Contempt of the most solemn Engagements, and a repeated
Violation of Public Faith.
On the Commencement of the Defensive War, in which We found Ourselves
engaged by the Aggression of France, We shewed a tender Regard for the
Interests of the States General, and a Desire of securing to their
Subjects every Advantage of Trade, consistent with the great and just
Principle of Our own Defence. Our Ambassador was instructed to offer
a friendly Negotiation, to obviate every Thing that might lead to
disagreeable Discussion; and to this Offer, solemnly made by him to the
States General, the 2d of November, 1778, no Attention was paid.
After the Number of Our Enemies increased by the Aggression of Spain,
equally unprovoked with that of France, We found it necessary to call
upon the States General for the Performance of their Engagements. The
Fifth Article of the perpetual Defensive Alliance between Our Crown and
the States General, concluded at Westminster the 3d of March, 1678,
besides the general Engagement for Succours, expressly stipulates,
"That that Party of the two Allies that is not attacked, shall be
obliged to break with the Aggressor in two Months after the Party
attacked shall require it." Yet two Years have passed, without the
least Assistance given to Us, without a single Syllable in Answer to
Our repeated Demands.
So totally regardless have the States been of their Treaties with
Us, that they readily promised Our Enemies to observe a Neutrality,
in direct Contradiction to those Engagements; and whilst they have
withheld from Us the Succours they were bound to furnish, every secret
Assistance has been given the Enemy; and Inland Duties have been taken
off, for the sole Purpose of facilitating the Carriage of Naval Stores
to France.
In direct and open Violation of Treaty, they suffered an American
Pirate to remain several Weeks in one of their Ports; and even
permitted a Part of his Crew to mount Guard in a Fort in the Texel.
In the East-Indies, the Subjects of the States General, in Concert with
France, have endeavoured to raise up Enemies against Us.
In the West-Indies, particularly at St. Eustatius, every Protection and
Assistance has been given to Our Rebellious Subjects. Their Privateers
are openly received in the Dutch Harbours; allowed to refit there;
supplied with Arms and Ammunition; their Crews recruited; their Prizes
brought in and sold; and all this in direct Violation of as clear and
solemn Stipulations as can be made.
This Conduct, so inconsistent with all good Faith, so repugnant to the
Sense of the wisest Part of the Dutch Nation, is chiefly to be ascribed
to the Prevalence of the leading Magistrates of Amsterdam, whose secret
Correspondence with Our Rebellious Subjects was suspected, long before
it was made known by the fortunate Discovery of a Treaty, the first
Article of which is:
"There shall be a firm, inviolable and universal Peace, and sincere
Friendship, between their High Mightinesses the Estates of the Seven
United Provinces of Holland, and the United States of North America,
and the Subjects and People of the said Parties; and between the
Countries, Islands, Cities, and Towns, situated under the Jurisdiction
of the said United States of Holland, and the said United States of
America, and the People and Inhabitants thereof, of every Degree,
without Exception of Persons or Places."
This Treaty was signed in September, 1778, by the express Order of the
Pensionary of Amsterdam, and other principal Magistrates of that City.
They now not only avow the whole Transaction, but glory in it, and
expressly say, even to the States General, that what they did "was what
their indispensable Duty required."
In the mean Time, the States General declined to give any Answer to the
Memorial presented by Our Ambassador; and this Refusal was aggravated
by their proceeding upon other Business, nay upon the Consideration
of this very Subject to internal Purposes; and while they found it
impossible to approve the Conduct of their Subjects, they still
industriously avoided to give Us the Satisfaction so manifestly due.
We had every Right to expect, that such a Discovery would have
roused them to a just Indignation at the Insult offered to Us, and
to themselves; and that they would have been eager to give Us full
and ample Satisfaction for the Offence, and to inflict the severest
Punishment upon the Offenders. The Urgency of the Business made an
instant Answer essential to the Honour and Safety of this Country.[1]
The Demand was accordingly pressed by Our Ambassador in repeated
Conferences with the Ministers, and in a Second Memorial: It was
pressed with all the Earnestness which could proceed from Our ancient
Friendship, and the Sense of recent Injuries; and the Answer now given
to a Memorial on such a Subject, delivered about Five Weeks ago,
is, _That the States have taken it ad referendum_. Such an Answer,
upon such an Occasion, could only be dictated by the fixt Purpose of
Hostility meditated, and already resolved, by the States, induced by
the offensive Councils of Amsterdam thus to countenance the hostile
Aggression, which the Magistrates of that City have made in the Name of
the Republic.
There is an End of the Faith of all Treaties with Them, if Amsterdam
may usurp the Sovereign Power, may violate those Treaties with
Impunity, by pledging the States to Engagements directly contrary,
and leaguing the Republic with the Rebels of a Sovereign to whom she
is bound by the closest Ties. An Infraction of the Law of Nations,
by the meanest Member of any Country, gives the injured State a
Right to demand Satisfaction and Punishment: How much more so, when
the Injury complained of is a flagrant Violation of Public Faith,
committed by leading and predominant Members in the State? Since
then the Satisfaction we have demanded is not given, We must, though
most reluctantly, do Ourselves that Justice which We cannot otherwise
obtain: We must consider the States General as Parties in the Injury
which they will not repair, as Sharers in the Aggression which they
refuse to punish, and must act accordingly. We have therefore ordered
Our Ambassador to withdraw from the Hague, and shall immediately pursue
such vigorous Measures as the Occasion fully justifies, and Our Dignity
and the essential Interests of Our People require.
From a Regard to the Dutch Nation at large, We wish it were possible
to direct those Measures wholly against Amsterdam; but this cannot be,
unless the States General will immediately declare, that Amsterdam
shall, upon this Occasion, receive no Assistance from them, but be left
to abide the Consequences of it's Aggression.
Whilst Amsterdam is suffered to prevail in the general Councils, and
is backed by the Strength of the State, it is impossible to resist
the Aggression of so considerable a Part, without contending with
the Whole. But We are too sensible of the common Interests of both
Countries not to remember, in the Midst of such a Contest, that the
only Point to be aimed at by Us, is to raise a Disposition in the
Councils of the Republic to return to our ancient Union, by giving Us
that Satisfaction for the past, and Security for the future, which
We shall be as ready to receive as They can be to offer, and to the
Attainment of which We shall direct all Our Operations. We mean only to
provide for Our own Security, by defeating the dangerous Designs that
have been formed against Us. We shall ever be disposed to return to
Friendship with the States General, when they sincerely revert to that
System which the Wisdom of their Ancestors formed, and which has now
been subverted by a powerful Faction, conspiring with France against
the true Interests of the Republic, no less than against those of Great
Britain.
St. James's, December 20, 1780.