In May 1784 Thomas Jefferson...
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In May 1784 Thomas Jefferson was appointed minister plenipotentiary in Paris for the newly constituted United States, where he joined and later succeeded Benjamin Franklin. His task was to negotiate economic treaties with European countries, notably with France, England, Russia, Austria, and Spain, among others. Congress realized that by establishing economic relations with various nations, those nations would be recognizing the independence of the fledging nation.
The work of the American ambassadors was not always easy. The well-established and centuries-old diplomatic community of Europe looked with a certain disdain upon the newcomer nation. Jefferson wrote,
On my presentation as usual to the King and Queen at their levees, it was impossible for anything to be more ungracious than their notice of Mr. Adams and myself. I saw at once that the ulcerations in the narrow mind of that mulish being left nothing to be expected on the subject of my attendance; and on the first conference with the Marquis of Caermarthen, his Minister of foreign affairs, the distance and disinclination which he betrayed in his conversation, the vagueness and evasions of his answers to us, confirmed me in the belief of their aversion to have anything to do with us. (The Life of Thomas Jefferson, by R. L. Rayner).
Yet Jefferson persisted, using all the powers and influence of a plenipotentiaries, powers that might be described in a paraphrase of Jesus' words, "The one who sees me, sees the country and the president who sent me."
The work of the American ambassadors was not always easy. The well-established and centuries-old diplomatic community of Europe looked with a certain disdain upon the newcomer nation. Jefferson wrote,
On my presentation as usual to the King and Queen at their levees, it was impossible for anything to be more ungracious than their notice of Mr. Adams and myself. I saw at once that the ulcerations in the narrow mind of that mulish being left nothing to be expected on the subject of my attendance; and on the first conference with the Marquis of Caermarthen, his Minister of foreign affairs, the distance and disinclination which he betrayed in his conversation, the vagueness and evasions of his answers to us, confirmed me in the belief of their aversion to have anything to do with us. (The Life of Thomas Jefferson, by R. L. Rayner).
Yet Jefferson persisted, using all the powers and influence of a plenipotentiaries, powers that might be described in a paraphrase of Jesus' words, "The one who sees me, sees the country and the president who sent me."
