[Extract]
No. 298
Sir, I brought up again the Newfoundland affair yesterday. All the Ministers are here and there is no reason to postpone it anymore. I intend to speak of this matter every day to Mylord Rochford, and you will assist me most effectually if you will do the same with Mylord Stormont; the great policy of the British Ministers is to gain time.
The affair seems clear to me, and Mylord Rochford himself agrees. If there is to be no competition, English fishermen have no right to be established between Bonavista and St. John. If competition is the rule, it excludes by its own right sedentary establishments that would make it unreal; in both cases, it is a point in our favor. We have another undisputable one atising from the orders which the King of England gave in 1764 and 1770 to destroy these establishments following the memoranda delivered by the French Ambassadors to this Court. These orders which have proved to be without effect after eleven years can no longer be offered as a satisfaction to our grievances. Mylord Rocheford, however, repeatedly made such a proposal yesterday, on his own, he said, without authorization, as if it were a new idea that had just entered his mind. I answered that this was all we wished; if the effective date could be determined at the earliest time so that our next fishing operation could become a reality, which the King2 would have no other way. We must give the impression to require this in order to make the exchange necessary, in as much as it is the only means of conciliation, and so that we turn the affair more surely to our advantage.
As for the competition, Mylord Rochford told me several times yesterday that it was absurd; that this mixture of English and French fishermen would be an eternal source of difficulties; and as he seemed to fear such difficulties, I innocently suggested to him that we send warships to police our fishermen as England does it with her own. As I expected, this idea made him shudder, and I do not despair that we can use it again, perhaps effectively, to make him finally sick of competition.
I had to prolong my conference with this Minister because of the subject of Newfoundland; I left it to the Prince of Masseran [Maserand] to talk to him of the American affairs, and to probe his ulterior plans, as we have continually and carefully been doing. The Minister gave yesterday morning the order to send four more Infantry Regiments to Boston. The militia will receive orders, and the plan to have at least 40 thousand men available in America next summer appears certain. The Prince of Masseran made a few remarks upon the difficulty and the necessity to resort to foreign troops, in an effort to prevent it; he immediately mentioned the Russians. Mylord Rochford replied that they would take them wherever they could get them, and referred only to the men from Brunswick and Hesse. Here is something, Sir, of which I was warned yesterday by someone who has been of useful service to us for several years and whose information always proved to be correct. Day before yesterday, Lord North sent for Mr. Franks, a wealthy Jew and an esteemed merchant. He struck a bargain with him to supply rations between now and July next to the troops in America as follows:
19 thousand Englishmen
12 thousand Canadians
15 thousand Russians
Total: 46 thousand men.
This contract is very expensive and will cost fifty per cent more than if they could procure these supplies in America, since it is necessary to send them from Europe. Mr. Franks himself confided this fact in the person from whom I have it and asked that it be kept secret because Mylord North had expressly requested it: This Minister even added that he especially did not want revealed the num ber of Russians who were going to be in the pay of Great Britain. Mr. Franks is particularly esteemed by Their Britannic Majesties.
I would answer, Sir, for the loyalty of the person who gave methese details as I would for myself. I do not doubt that he received them from Mr. Franks. However, why speak of the Russians if it is to be a mystery; and why would M ylord North have struck such a large bargain to such an important purpose a week before the return of Parliament which has not given him its consent? As to the first objection, it is indeed possible that this Minister found it safer to present the accomplished fact and have all the preparations for the war in America decided upon, rather than having them exposed to the delays and even the uncertainties of the decisions of Parliament. The ratification will be just as easy to obtain and it will not involve detrimental delays.
The Ministry expects long debates on the opening day. They hope that Lord Chatham will not be able to be there. That day will be especially interesting as the topic of the address by the King of England will be restricted to the American affairs, and the Ministry will present immediately afterwards the facts, the available means, and its own views.