Russian and American Governtuents, the effect of whieh woukl be to exclude British subject= from the northwest coast of America, and a valuable trule in the interior.
Mr. Strntford Canning understood it likewise. Ina letter of Feb- riary 1. 1822, addressed to the Marquis of Londonderry, be said:
T was informed this inorning by Mr, Adame that the Russian Kiryoy has, within the last few days, comminieated officially to the American Government, an Ukuse of the Enyperor of Russia, which has lately appeared in the publie prints, appropri- ating to the sovereignty and exelusive use of His Imperial Majesty the northwest couct of Ameriet down to the 51st pacratlel of latituele, ete.
To the same effect was the understunding of the Duke of Welling- ton. Jn a memorandum enclosed by him under cover of a letter of November 28, 1522, nddressed to Mr. G, Channing, be sys:
In the month of September, 1821, His [aperial Maje-ty, the Enyperor of Russia, issved an Ukase, uaserting the existence in the Crown of Russia of an exclucive right of sovereignty in the countries extending from Behring’s Strait= to the 41st ‘legree of north latitade on the weat coast of America, ete."
John Quincy Adams. Secretary of State of the United States. understood at that time that Russta’s claim to the coast embraced the entire coast. including the sinuosities of the inlets,
In a letter to Mr. Middleton, American Minister at St. Petersburg, July 22. 1823, he said:
From the tenor of the Ukase, the pretentions of the Imperial Gayernment exteal to an exclusive territorial jurisliction from the forty-ttith degree of north latitnde on the Asiatic coast to the latitude of fifty-one north on the western coast of dhe Ameri- ean veitinent; and they assume the right of iuterdicting the aneiyafion ant the tisherv of all other nations to the extent of 100 iniles from the whole of that waist. 2.7
Hix understanding that the claint of Russin embraced the entire coast is very important, when considered in connection with the fret hereinafter brought out, that the United Stutes acquired rights of trade with the mutives inhabiting those portions of the coast now im controversy. by the Treaty of Ts2d. which rights Great Britain expressly insisted upon securing for herself in identically the same form, in the Treaty of 1825.
These rights are in direet contlict with the pretension that Creat Britain, ly the Treaty of 1825. acquired territorial sovereiguty over
“1. SoC. App., 107, eC. S.C App. 13.
PUL S.C. App, 100, U8, C. App, 4849.
