222 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



9 No. 2. 



UKASE OP SEPTEMBER 13, 1821, GRANTING PRIVILEGES TO THE 

 RUSSIAN-AMERICAN COMPANY FOR TWENTY YEARS. 



THE UKASE OF HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY THE AUTOCRAT OF ALL THE RUSSIAS IS 

 HEREBY PUBLISHED BY THE RULING SENATE. 



[Translation.] 



By His Imperial Majesty's Ukase, bearing liis signature, and communicated to the 

 Ruling Senate on tlie 13th day of September, of the year 1821, it is decreed: 



"The Russian-American Company, under our protection, availing itself of the 

 privileges conferred on it by Imperial Decree in the year 1799, has completely fulfilled 

 what we expected of it, by its success in navigation, by what it has done to develop 

 the trade of the Empire, to the benefit of all, and by securing consideralde profits 

 to those who are directly interested in it. In consideration whereof, being desirous 

 of prolonging its existence and establishing it yet more firmly, we hereby renew the 

 privileges granted to it, with the necessary additions and modifications, for a period 

 of twenty years frou) this date, and having sanctioned the new Regulations drawn 

 up for it, hand this over to tlie Ruling Senate, commanding them to prepare the 

 necessary document setting forth these privileges, to lay it before us for our signature, 

 and to take the proper further steps in the matter." 



PRIVILEGES GRANTED TO THE RUSSIAN-AMERICAN COMPANY FOR TWENTY YEARS 



FROM THIS DATE. 



1. The Company founded for the exercise of industries ou the mainland of North- 

 western America, and on the Aleutian and Kurile Islands, shall be, as heretofore, 

 under the protection of His Imperial Majesty. 



2. It shall have the privilege of carrying on, to the exclusion of all other Russians, 

 and of the subjects of foreign States, all industries connected with the capture of 

 wild animals and all fishing industries, on the shores of North-western America wliich 

 have from time immemorial belonged to Russia, commemwngfrom the northern point 

 of the Island of Vancouver, under 51'^ north latitude, to Behriug Straits and l)eyoud 

 them, and on all the islands which Ijelong to that coast, as well as on the others sit- 

 uated between it and the eastern shore of Siberia, and also on those of the Kurile 

 Islands where the Company has carried on industries, as far as the southern extremity 

 of the Island of Urup under 45° 50'. 



3. It shall have the exclusive enjoyment of everything in that region which it has 

 hitherto discovered, or which it may in future discover, either ou the surface of the 

 earth or in the earth. 



4. The Company may make discoveries within the limits defined above, and it is 

 authorized to annex such newly-discovered ]daces to the Russian dominions, pro- 

 vided they have not been occupied by any other European nation, or by citizens of 

 the United States, and have not become dependencies of such foreign nation ; but the 

 Company may not found permanent settlements in such places unless authorized to 

 do so by the Emperor. 



5. Within the limits defined in section 2, the Company is authorized to found new 

 settlements, and to construct works of defence at any point, should such be neces- 

 sary, at its own discretion, and to enlarge and improve existing settlements or works 

 of defence; it is permitted to send ships with men and merchandize to those places 

 without hindrance. 



6. In order to insure to the Company the enjoyment of the exclusive rights granted 

 to it, and to prevent for the future any interference or damage to it arising from the 

 action of Russian subjects or of foreigners. Regulations are now drawn up regard- 

 ing the manner in which those persons are to be dealt with who, either voluntarily 

 or under stress of circumstances, come to the places defined in section 2 of tiiese 

 privileges, in spite of the fact that they are prohibited from coming to them. These 

 Regulations must be strictly observed both by the Company and by those authori- 

 ties whom they may concern. 



7. The Company is authorized to communicate by sea with all neighbouring 

 nations, and to trade with them, with the consent of their Governments, except in 

 tlie case of tlie Chinese Empire, the shores of which the Company's ships are never 

 to approach. 



In regard to other nations, the Company's ships shall not have trade or other rela- 

 tions with th<;vu against the wish of their Governments. 



8. All Courts of Law shall recognize the Administraticm of the Company as estab- 

 lished for the numagement of its affairs, and all writs from Courts in matters con- 

 cerning the Com])any shall be addressed to that Administration, and not to any one 

 of the members of the Company. 



