1825 John Quincy Adams - Anderson–Gual Treaty

In 1825, President John Quincy Adams touted the Anderson–Gual Treaty, also known as the General Convention of Peace, Amity, Navigation, and Commerce which established most-favored nation status and full reciprocal trade with Gran Columbia.   Adams argued that it was much more than just a commercial treaty;  it was a continuation of the Monroe Doctrine and would give the South American Republics the strength they needed to resist the efforts of the European powers to re-colonize them.

On January 27th, 1823 Richard Clough Anderson Jr. of Kentucky was appointed as the first United States Minister Plenipotentiary to the Gran Colombia and in 1825, Anderson concluded this first bilateral treaty with another American state.  The General Convention of Peace, Amity, Navigation, and Commerce Between the United States of America and The Republic of Columbia was signed at Bogota on October 23, 1824 and remained in effect until 1837.  The treaty was ratified by both President John Quincy Adams and Columbia in March of 1825, and was one of the first major accomplishments of the Adams administration.

In his first State of the Union Address, Adams wrote, "It is with great satisfaction that I am enabled to bear witness to the liberal spirit with which the Republic of Colombia has made satisfaction for well-established claims of a similar character, and among the documents now communicated to Congress will be distinguished a treaty of commerce and navigation with that Republic".  Adams explained that the treaty was based on two principles first "entire and unqualified reciprocity" and second, placing each other on most-favored nation status.  Adams explained this was so much more than just an commercial treaty, rather by extending most-favored nation status and full reciprocity, it would bolster the strength and confidence of Republics of South America to resist the efforts of Europe to re-colonize them.  This was not just a treaty, it was an extension and continuation of the Monroe Doctrine.  With a new partnership in the American economy, the republics of South America no longer had to except concessions from Spain or Great Britain, and no longer had to be burdened with "exclusive commercial privileges" from European nations that would pit one republic of South America against another.

"It is with great satisfaction that I am enabled to bear witness to the liberal spirit with which the Republic of Colombia has made satisfaction for well-established claims of a similar character, and among the documents now communicated to Congress will be distinguished a treaty of commerce and navigation with that Republic, the ratifications of which have been exchanged since the last recess of the Legislature. The negotiation of similar treaties with all of the independent South American States has been contemplated and may yet be accomplished. The basis of them all, as proposed by the United States, has been laid in two principles -- the one of entire and unqualified reciprocity, the other the mutual obligation of the parties to place each other permanently upon the footing of the most favored nation. These principles are, indeed, indispensable to the effectual emancipation of the American hemisphere from the thralldom of colonizing monopolies and exclusions, an event rapidly realizing in the progress of human affairs, and which the resistance still opposed in certain parts of Europe to the acknowledgment of the Southern American Republics as independent States will, it is believed, contribute more effectually to accomplish. The time has been, and that not remote, when some of those States might, in their anxious desire to obtain a nominal recognition, have accepted of a nominal independence, clogged with burdensome conditions, and exclusive commercial privileges granted to the nation from which they have separated to the disadvantage of all others. They are all now aware that such concessions to any European nation would be incompatible with that independence which they have declared and maintained."

The General Convention of Peace, Amity, Navigation, and Commerce treaty contained 31 articles.   The first four articles established the concept of "most-favored nation status".  In the first article, it established a "perfect, firm, and inviolable peace and sincere friendship between the United States of America and the Republic of Columbia" while the second laid out that  any favor that the United States gave to any other nation regarding commerce and navigation would also apply to Columbia and vice versa.  Articles 3 and 4, granted merchants of each nation  all the "rights, privileges, and exemptions in navigation and Commerce, with the most favoured nation would enjoy".  The remaining articles established free and reciprocal trade as well as protecting the rights of each nation against detainment and seizure of property, granted access to rivers, bays ports, established rules for disposal of goods, and right of burial for citizens who die in the other country. 

In 1826, while Anderson was commissioned as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Panama Congress, but died en route to Columbia.

References

Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2017). John Quincy Adams: First Annual Message. [online] Available at: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29467 [Accessed 20 Dec. 2017].

Loc.gov. (2017). General Convention of Peace, Amity, Navigation, and Commerce. [online] Available at: https://www.loc.gov/law/help/us-treaties/bevans/b-co-ust000006-0855.pdf [Accessed 20 Dec. 2017].

En.wikipedia.org. (2017). Anderson–Gual Treaty. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson%E2%80%93Gual_Treaty [Accessed 20 Dec. 2017].

En.wikipedia.org. (2017). Richard Clough Anderson Jr.. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Clough_Anderson_Jr. [Accessed 20 Dec. 2017].