In the decade after 1882, French colonial expansion in Africa was a subject of American diplomatic correspondence. In 1884, the Ameri can government, through Secretary Frelinghuy sen, warned France again aggressions on Liberia. Again in 1892-93 it interposed its remonstrances against the danger of French spoliation of the weak republic.
Meantime a claims convention with France, concluded in 1880, was supplemented by conven tions of 1882 and 1883. By the convention of 1880 a board or mixed commission was created to adjust the claims resulting from the Ameri can Civil War, the Mexican troubles of 1863-67 and the Franco-German War. It sat at Wash ington 1880-84 and completed its work in 1884, awarding $612,000 to France. A reciprocity arrangement of 28 May 1898 was followed by the negotiation of a reciprocity convention (of 24 July 1899) which, however, was not ratified. The arrangement of 1898 was amended and supplemented on 20 Aug. 1902.
Although French sympathy for Spain early in the Spanish-American War was noticeable, the French government was irreproachable in its conduct and the French Minister at Wash ington tactfully performed the delicate task of opening negotiations for peace. Subsequent signs of illwill caused by the American policy in the Far East — especially by the American opposition to the designs of Russia which had been an ally of France — were soon succeeded by a better understanding shown in the French appreciation of President Roosevelt's initiative in the peace negotiations following the Russo Japanese War, and the friendly attitude of the Washington government during the Morocco dispute. With the elimination of the last real danger from conflicting interests by the Ameri can purchase of the property of the bankrupt French Panama Canal Company, Franco-Ameri can relations were placed on a more satisfactory basis than they had been for a century. The Monroe Doctrine, which has sometimes been opposed by French writers through misappre hension that its extension will result in American aggression against the French West India Is lands, recently has been regarded more as a safeguard against the transfer of her West India colonial territory to any other European power seeking colonies at French expense, An arbitrary convention, suggested by The Hague Convention of 1899, was concluded in 1907. A more comprehensive arbitration treaty
was signed on 2 Aug. 1911, but was emasculated by the Senate March 1912 and aban doned. A general treaty of arbitration to facilitate the settlement of disputes and to further the advancement of the cause of gen eral peace was negotiated in September 1914 and proclaimed in January 1915.
In the World War, begun by the invasion of France by Germany, the American government at first maintained a strict neutrality, but, finally, instigated by brutal German attacks upon Amer ican rights on the sea, decided to co-operate with France and England in a determined effort to arrest the German menace to the peace and civilization of the world. Although the United States has not been directly affected by French political institutions, and until recently has not been bound to France by close ties in foreign affairs, Americans have been greatly influenced by French thought and cannot remain indiffer ent to what happens to France.
Bibliography.— Bancroft, F., 'Seward' (2 vols., New York 1900) ; Bigelow, John, 'Retro spections) (New York 1910) ; id., 'France and the Confederate Navy' (ib. 1888) ; Callahan, J. M.,