1787-October-10: The French government issued formal instructions to its new minister to the United States, Count de Moustier, regarding the future of coloni…
1787-October-10: The French government issued formal instructions to its new minister to the United States, Count de Moustier, regarding the future of colonial trade. The instructions acknowledged that Americans were likely to complain about the restrictive trade policies in Saint-Domingue and other French possessions. Vergennes and other officials feared that Great Britain would exploit these grievances to drive a wedge between the United States and France. Moustier was tasked with evaluating the necessity of further commercial concessions to maintain the alliance and safeguard French interests in the Caribbean. This diplomatic directive shows that even on the eve of the French Revolution, the trade of Saint-Domingue remained a central issue in Atlantic diplomacy.