382 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



As British points, the Slave Trade, the Austrian Debt, and the late Russian Ukase 

 will demand attention. 



# H * * TT T » 



Upon the Russian Ukase the objections to its enactment, in principle, are set forth 

 in the note addressed to Count Lieven in reply to his communication of the Ukase 

 to the British Government. The duty of the British rienipoteutiary will be to 

 bring the Russian Cabinet to some distinct explanation as to the mode in which the 

 dili'erences of opinion on this instrument may be reconciled. 



17 No. 12. 



Memorandum by the BuJce of Wellington. 



September 11, 1822. 



In the course of a conversation wliicli I had yesterday with Count 

 Lieven, he informed me that he had been directed to give verbal 

 explanations of the Ukase respecting the north-west coast of America. 

 These explanations went, he said, to this, that the Emperor did not 

 propose to carry into execution the Ukase in its extended sense. That 

 His Imperial Majesty's ships had been directed to cruize at the shortest 

 possible distance from the shore in order to supply the natives with 

 arms and ammunition, and in order to warn all vessels that that was 

 His Imperial Majesty's dominion ; and that His Imperial Majesty had 

 besides given directions- to his Minister in the United States to agree 

 upon a Treaty of Limits with the United States. 



It appears here that this explanation when given will be very little 

 satisfactory; and that at best it is only a verbal explanation of a written 

 and published Ukase, the terms of wliich, however contrary to the law of 

 nations and protested against by us, must be the rule for our merchants 

 and traders till we can obtain some document in writing which will alter 

 it. This is the sense in which I propose to act at Vienna u])on this part of 

 the Instructions, and it is desirable that I should be informed whether 

 we have any claim to territory on the north-west coast of America, and 

 what are the opinions and reasonings of the civilians upon the question 

 of dominion on the sea. 



The Russian Ministers will very probably assimilate their claim of 

 dominion as thus verbally explained to the claim which we are sup- 

 posed to have of dominion in the Narrow Seas, which it was attempted 

 to bring into discussion at the Congress at Vienna in 1815. We avoided 

 the discussion, and explained the practice of giving and receiving 

 salutes prevailing in the British navy in a manner satisfactory to all 

 parties. But we never relinquished the claim of the dominion. 



On the other hand, we have not recently claimed the dominion in a 

 Proclamation, and warned others not to approach it. 



September 16, 1822. 



Since writing the above I have again seen Count Lieven on this sub- 

 ject, and he has informed me that the Emperor has anthorized his Min- 

 ister hi the United States to treat upon limits in North America with 

 the United States. He gave me this instruction confidentially, and in 

 order that if we had any claim to territory on the north-west coast of 

 Ameiica we might bring it forward, so as not to be shut out by any 

 agreement made between ]ius;<ia and the Ignited States. 



It is desirable, therefoie, that I should be informed npon this subject 

 as soon as may be convenient. 



