Both sides prepare statements to be sent…
April 1798 CE
Their departure had been delayed due to a series of negotiations over the return of their passports; in order to obtain diplomatic advantage, Talleyrand had sought to force Marshall and Pinckney to formally request their return (which would allow him to later claim that they broke off negotiations).
Talleyrand had eventually given in, formally requesting their departure.
Gerry, although he seeks to maintain unity with his cocommissioners, had been told by Talleyrand that if he left France the Directory would declare war.
Gerry remains behind, protesting the "impropriety of permitting a foreign government to [choose] the person who should negotiate."
He however remains optimistic that war is unrealistic, writing to William Vans Murray, the American minister to The Netherlands, that "nothing but madness" would cause the French to declare war.
Gerry resolutely refuses to engage in further substantive negotiations with Talleyrand, agreeing only to stay until someone with more authority can replace him, and writes to President Adams requesting assistance in securing his departure from Paris.
Talleyrand will eventually sent representatives to The Hague to reopen negotiations with William Vans Murray, and Gerry will finally return home in October 1798.