Chapter 767: Turning the Tables
The US wouldn't tolerate these "rabble-rousers." Attorney General Jennings Randolph immediately mobilized the militia to disperse the protestors.
The protestors didn't put up much resistance. They left when told to, but merely circled around the streets and headed to the federal courthouse to continue chanting slogans.
Indeed, about a third of these people were paid operatives, making them seem quite "professional." They had planned their course of action a week in advance, including how to maximize their impact and how to react when encountering the militia.
So, even though Randolph mobilized over a thousand militiamen and heavily guarded all important departments in Philadelphia, he still couldn't extinguish the protestors' fervor.
The salaries for these "professionals" were paid by an organization called the "Association for Aiding Disabled Veterans of the War of Independence."
The "Association's" mission statement was: "To ensure the survival of American citizens harmed by British colonists."
Naturally, the staff of the Association held a deep hatred for the British invaders who had harmed American citizens, which was perfectly understandable.
Thus, when the "Association" learned that the British had started a war against their dear French friends, they furiously organized this large-scale protest.
The "Association's" funding primarily came from plantation owners in Georgia State and South Carolina, many of whom were of French descent. After the devastation caused by Booker's slave army, French merchants, acting on the advice of the Minister of Trade, bought up large numbers of cotton plantations in these two states at rock-bottom prices.
No one knew that Mr. Cassel had another identity: a Captain in the French Intelligence Bureau.
The learned Mr. Cassel referred to the Association as a "Non-Governmental Organization" (NGO), meaning an organization that carries out public welfare activities without relying on government power.
However, this definition was rather clunky to pronounce, so people usually just abbreviated it to "NGO."
As for how NGOs were formed and operated, the American CIA of later generations had provided numerous examples. Joseph simply copied a "manual" from them and gave it to Fouché, who quickly grasped the concepts and began implementing them.
However, this "tactic" could only be used in parliamentary states like the United States. If a monarchical state like Prussia or Austria dared to try such a thing, the secret police would be knocking on their doors to make arrests within minutes.
When people opposing "British hegemony" began carrying portraits of little girls brutally murdered by the British during the War of Independence and started a sit-in at Northwest Plaza in Philadelphia, with an increasing number of participants, the Federal Congress finally felt a headache coming on.
At Franklin's villa, several prominent figures of the United States watched hundreds of petitioning citizens walk past on the nearby street, all with furrowed brows.
"I visited the plaza yesterday afternoon; there were at least a thousand people gathered there," Speaker of the House Madison shook his head. "These foolish people have no idea what getting involved in a war between Britain and France would mean."
"Ordinary people just want to vent their emotions; they couldn't care less about the bigger picture."
Hamilton's voice was tinged with anger: "It's all because of that French Special Envoy! He's been giving speeches everywhere lately, getting these fools all riled up."
The rather pro-French Jefferson shrugged: "To be frank, he's only stating the facts, whether about treaties or the ongoing war in Europe."
"But there's no way we can sacrifice so many interests for France. Chief Justice Jay's negotiations are what we truly hope for..."
Hamilton was in mid-sentence when his assistant suddenly burst through the door, anxiously waving a newspaper. "Mr. Hamilton, this is terrible..."
Hamilton looked at him with displeasure. "Don't be so rash, Clark, what is it?"
"You... you should see for yourself."
Hamilton took a copy of the Philadelphia Gazette from his assistant, unfolded it, and saw the headline on the front page: "Government Negotiating with Britain: Plans to Exchange Interests for Improved Anglo-American Diplomatic Relations."
He hastily scanned down; the main text detailed how the American government, in order to expand trade with Britain, was prepared to no longer pursue the matter of the British Navy seizing American merchant ships and would not demand the return of American citizens captured by the British and pressed into service as sailors. At the same time, the United States would open the Mississippi River to British merchant ships and prohibit the plunder of British-flagged vessels along the American coast.
Indeed, after Britain began blockading France's maritime trade, dozens of American merchant ships bound for France had been seized by the British Navy.
This incident had caused a huge uproar in the United States.
Yet, this news report claimed the American government was simply going to let it slide.
It was easy to imagine that once this news spread, it would immediately cause an explosion of outrage across the nation!
However, what made Hamilton break out in a cold sweat was that the American government was indeed preparing to do exactly that. Negotiator Jay was already on a ship bound for London...
He shoved the newspaper into Jefferson's hands and roared, "Who leaked the information?!"
Fewer than ten high-ranking American officials knew about this secret negotiation, so it should have been impossible for the information to get out.
The few people in the room immediately looked at each other in dismay, then collectively shook their heads.
Of course, they didn't know that these negotiation terms had been "guessed" by Joseph.
The current international situation facing the United States was not much different from historical records, and the same people were still in charge. Therefore, the policies they formulated were bound to follow the old path.
Thus, he had Baron Focard preemptively release the American government's negotiation terms, exposing their "underbelly," and using American public opinion to force Washington to abandon these policies.
Hamilton glanced at the clock, grabbed his coat, and dashed out the door, telling Jefferson, "The French Special Envoy will be here soon; please stall him for a bit. I need to go report to the President!"
And so, the "US-French Diplomatic Coordination Meeting," originally scheduled to begin here at noon, was postponed for two days.
That afternoon, Washington personally publicly debunked the rumors in front of the Congressional assembly hall, declaring that the American government would never concede to Britain, that merchant ships illegally seized by Britain must be compensated, and that all captured American citizens would return home. Furthermore, the Mississippi River would forever remain the "private property" of American merchant ships, and the British would never be allowed to interfere with it. He also stated that the American government had no intention of abandoning its French allies.
It was fortunate that his reaction was swift, which prevented the American Shipping Association from organizing shipowners to cause trouble in Philadelphia.
While Washington was making his public statement, a fast clipper ship also departed from Philadelphia port, preparing to chase down Chief Justice Jay, the negotiator with Britain, and bring him back.
However, at the coordination meeting two days later, the French Special Envoy brought good news to the American bigwigs who were busy putting out fires everywhere: France would agree to allow the United States to remain neutral and not participate in the war.
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