Alliance

The only important alliance made by the United States was that with France, made by the treaty of February 6, 1778. Since 1776 France had privately aided the Revolution with arms and supplies. The two treaties of 1778 provided for a defensive alliance in case Great Britain should declare war on France, and declared that no peace should be made until the independence of the United States was recognized, and then only by mutual consent. Each party guaranteed the other’s: po e ions in America, and the United States granted to France, when France was at war, more favorable treatment than should be accorded to the other belligerent. These conce ions were subsequently troublesome to the United States in 1793. (See art. France.) ** Alliance,’” United States ve el, took part in the cruise of John Paul Jones and the ‘‘Bonhomme Richard,” and was one of the two ships remaining in the Continental service when the Revolutionary war ended.