JAY TREATY, the name applied, in U.S. history, to a treaty signed on Nov. 19, 1794 by John Jay and Lord Grenville on behalf of the United States and Great Britain, respectively. The American grievances which led to the negotiations consisted princi pally in Great Britain's refusal to withdraw her troops from the forts on the north-western frontier, as required by the peace treaty of 1783; her refusal to make compensation for slaves carried away by the British army at the close of the American Revolution; her restrictions on American commerce ; her refusal to enter into any commercial treaty with the United States ; and the anti neutral policy according to which British naval vessels were authorized to search American merchantmen and impress Ameri can seamen.
After negotiations which lasted for several months, Jay ob tained a treaty which, although departing widely from his instruc tions, he believed would adjust some of the differences between the two nations. It provided that the north-west posts should be evacuated by June 1, 1796, that commissioners should be ap pointed to settle the north-east and north-west boundaries, and that the claims of British merchants as well as the American claims for compensation for illegal seizures should be referred to com missioners. The remaining articles of the documents constituted a treaty of commerce. By them the United States was granted privileges of trade in the British East Indies; some provisions were made for reciprocal freedom of trade between the United States and the British dominions in Europe; and some articles were specified under the head of "contraband of war," but only limited concessions were granted in the West Indian trade. The
latter clause, which was limited to two years from the close of the existing war (between France and Great Britain and her allies), provided that American vessels not exceeding 70 tons burden might trade with the West Indies, but should carry only American products there and take away to American ports only West Indian products; moreover, the United States was to export in American vessels no molasses, sugar, coffee, cocoa or cotton to any port of the world. Other clauses provided for the free navigation of the Mississippi, that no enemy of England should fit out privateers in American waters, and that Americans should not accept com missions from the French minister. The treaty was silent on such important subjects as compensation for stolen slaves, neutral rights and the impressment of American sailors.
The treaty was laid before a special session of the Senate on June 8, 1795, and, with the exception of the article relating to West Indies trade, was ratified on the 24th by a bare two-thirds majority. Its subsequent publication raised a storm of protest both in America and France. The opposition filled newspapers with articles denouncing it and Jay was burned in effigy. Once in operation the treaty grew in favour.