24 CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



THE IKASE Ol' 1799 COXSIDEUEl). 



Tlif) Ukase, it will be observed,. granted to the Kussian- 

 Americau Ooinpauy exclusive riglits as against other 

 Russian subjects only, and in no way interfered with the 

 rights of foreigners, notwithstanding that the repre- 

 sentations which led to its promulgation contained, as 

 has already been indicated, complaints of competition by 

 foreigners. 



It will be noticed, for instance, that the details incor- 

 porated in clause 10 of the Ukase respecting the rights of 

 independent traders are such as to be applicable to iiussian 



subjects or Companies alone. 

 28 The rights ami privileges under the grant extended 



to the hunting grounds and establishments then 

 existing on the nuiin coast of America from Behring Strait 

 down to the 55th degree of north latitude. 



The southern limit of the exclusive coast privileges 

 granted to the Company extended on the Asiatic side to 

 Japan. 



^ot only were the main coasts of Asia and America thus 

 covered by the Ukase, but the same ])rivileges were granted 

 on the Aleutian, Kurile, and other islands "situated in the 

 North Eastern Ocean." 



It will be noted, therefore, that the area over which the 

 exclusive privileges were granted to the Eussian-American 

 Company extended both on the coast of Asia and of America 

 far beyond the limits of Behring Sea. 



Special privileges in regard to the purchase of powder 

 for shooting animals "on the mainland of America and on 

 the islands" were conceded, and the exclusive right "to use 

 and enjoy in the above-described extent of country and 

 islands" the hunting and trading. 



THE UKASE OE 1799 PURELY DOMESTIC. 



The Ukase in no way claimed any exclusive jurisdiction 

 over the sea, nor were any measures taken under it to 

 restrict the commerce, navigation, or lishery of the sub- 

 jects of foreign nations, and this althoiigli. within the very 

 area covered by the Ukase, as lias already been shown by 

 the facts stated, vessels of various nations had been navi- 

 gating and trading. 



It will be seen, by the account of the years following 

 179!>, that these operations on the part of foreigners con- 

 tinued. 



Referring to the Ukase of 1790, Mr. iMiddleton, the 

 United States Minister at St. Petersburgh, writes, Ttli 

 (10th) April, 1824, to Mr. Adams, the Secretary of State 

 of the Mnited States, as follows: 



Ainericiui state The confusion jiievailing in Europe in 1799 iierniitted Russia (who 

 Papers, lorcijcii ;i]o„e seems to liavo kept her attention fixed upon this interest duiini? 

 Kelations, vol. v, , • i > i j. i i • i i i. ^ i ii i .• ii • 



p 40J that period ) to taivo a deeided stej) towards the monopoly oi this 



trade, by the Ukase of that date, which trespassed upon the acknowl- 



