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Michigan 48106 A Xerox Education Company [! !| 73-9173 SIN9I, Roopnarine John, 1932- FRENCH RXŒIGN POLIOT, 1763-1778, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TOE CARIBBEAN. Hie Iftiiversity of Oklahoma, Hi.D., 1972 History, general University Microfilms, A XBdOX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOHâ GRADUATE COLIEGE FRENCH FOREIGN POLICY, 1763-1778, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE CARIBBEAN A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY ROOPNARINE JOHN SINGH Kearney, Nebraska 1972 FBENCH FOREIGN POLICY, 1763-1778, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE CARIBBEAN fVu>u>A/ DISSEKMTION COMMITTEE PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. University Microfilms, A Xerox Education Company ACKN0W1£DGNBNT The writer Is greatly Indebted to Dr. Dougland Thomas Calhoun, major advisor, for his deep Insight, valuable suggestions, helpful criticism, and professional guidance throu^out the research and writing of the dissertation. His assistance, encouragement, and Interest will always be remembered and cherished. Sincere thanks are extended also to the members of my committee for their help and suggestions In the reading of the manuscript and to the History Department for the grant which made It possible for me to do the research In France. The dissertation has been done In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctor's degree at the University of Oklahoma. Ill TABI£ OP COffEENTS Chapter Page I. IKTBGDUCTION............................... 1 II. FBENCH FOBEIGN POLICY AFIEB I7 6 3............ 6 III. CHOISEUL'S PLAN FOB WAB..................... ^5 IV. PBEPABATION FOB A WAB OF BEVENGE............ 60 V. NILITABÏ PBEPABATION IN THE CABIBBBAN....... 86 VI. GUYANE, AN EXAMPLE OF CHOISEUL'S PLAN FOB WAB 113 VII. FBENCH MILITABISN AT CAYENNE................ 159 VIII. TEST CASES OF FBENCH FOREIGN POLICY......... 190 IX. FRANCE IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION........... 209 X. CONCLUSIONS................................ 227 BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................. 234 Iv FBENCH FOREIGN POLICY, I763-I7 7 8 , WITH SPECIAL BEFEBENCE TO THE CARIBBEAN CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Soon after the end of the Seven Years* War in I7 6 3» the French began to revise their colonial policy and, in so doing, initiated a new mode of diplomacy. As a defeated nation, they made new plans fdr the recovery of lost terri­ tories and prestige, and they embarked on a general reform program in order to rebuild the army and the navy. Clearly, the French had not accepted their humiliation by the English as final. French officials began at once to prepare a retaliatory scheme which would press into service all French forces, whether on the continent or in the colonies. The purpose was clear, France intended to ready herself for a war of revenge. Historians of French diplomacy in the post-1 7 6 3 period have agreed that she marshaled her re­ sources for such a war of revenge against England and that, to this end, French foreign ministers sought to strengthen their country's relationships with allied powers,'Spain in particular. But many historians, particularly in the 1 2 eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, have given little attention to the vital role which French colonies played In Implementing the policy of preparing for a war of revenge. Cauelit In the Interest of European expansion Into the new world and the competition for colonies In the age of Imperialism, they assumed that colonies existed to serve the exclusive Interest of metropolitan countries and as centers of trade and commerce. Eighteenth century historians were also Influenced by the philosophy of colonization and mercemtlllsm which had dominated political practice and economic thought. There­ fore historical literature justified the planting of colonies from a utilitarian position. Examples are given In the following chapter which described the writing of travellers, navigators, and explorers who encouraged the use of colonies In the prosecution of metropolitan expansion and economic Interest. The works of Edward Long, History of Jamaica {Vf7^) and Bryem Edwards, History civil and commercial of the British colonies In the West Indies (1793) also re­ flected the vested Interest of European nations In the colonies. Such emphasis was similarly felt In Abbd Baynal's Histoire philosophique et politique des établissement et du commerce des Européens dans les deux Indes (1780). In general, eighteenth century historians recognized that the purpose of French colonies was to serve the economic Interest of the Métropole. This Interpretation 3 underplayed the military or diplomatic value of the colonies. But there were exceptions to the InteriKcetatlrn of Long and Edwards. When Adam Smith published his Wealth of Nations (1 7 7 6) he attempted to remove European monopci.'.? in the colonies by waging war on mercantilism. Smith's work raised crucial Issues pertaining to the colonies, for example slavery, and served as the foundation for later economists In the nineteenth century like David Ricardo and Karl Marx who stood against economic exploitation and for natural liberty, justice, and the rights of mankind. The same Intellectual atmosphere also Influenced Thomas Clarkson who wrote Abolition of the African slave traie (I8 3 0). Like Smith, Clarkson discussed many Issues affuctlng the colonies, such as the need to abolish the slave trade, and urged a humanitarian position In dealing ^ith the colonies. In contrast to Long and Edwards, Clarkson's work foreshadowed a different attitude among later historians, particularly In the twentieth century, an attitude which recognized the role played by ths colonies in European diplomacy. An example Is Eric Williams* Negro In the Caribbean (1942), Capitalism and Slavery (1 9 6 1 ), and British Historians In the West Indies (I9 6 6 ), which discuss the problems and role of the colonies In the age of Imperialism and their role In the making of the European past. Williams' works have generated considerable Interest In Caribbean studies and In the Importance of the colonies. 4 Contemporary historians, especially since World War II, have devoted more time to colonial studies and to the use of colonial archives. They are increasingly aware, additionally, of the participation of the colonies in the past in develop­ ing the nations of Europe, For example. Gouverneur Gënëral Olivier wrote that colonization established between the colonizing country and the colonized peoples a relationship which can only be compcired to that of mutual obligation and reciprocal services we find in a family between parent and children. Seen in this way, one cannot ignore the importance of that relationship. The colonial situation is bilateral. Olivier statedt TThe interests of those colonized ought to be given at least as much consideration as those of the colonizers. And these interests must not be solely material ones. The share of the spirit ought to be at least as important as that of the body, It is in the interest of those colonized— the French Caribbean colonies— that consideration is given in the present research. This is supported by evidence that Etienne François de Choiseul, minister of foreign affairs, of war, and of the marine, saw in his plan for a war of revenge an important role to be played by the colonies. The findings indicate that Saint Domingue, Martinique, French Guyane, and Guadeloupe and its dependences were Gouverneur Général Olivier, France and the Colonial Problem (Paris: Centre d"Information Documentaires, 1 9 3 8), p. 3 6, 5 a primary factor in influencing the formation of a foreign policy designed to war with England. This study further reveals that, according to the plan, the colonies were to contribute significantly by supplying forces for that forth­ coming war whether such troops fought independently or supported French battalions of regular soldiers to be sent from the Métropole. The thesis is supported largely by reference to a Mémoire which Choiseul wrote to Louis XV in 1765. Choiseul anticipated that the struggle with England would be fought on the seas and in the colonies.