APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 4G9 



With rejiard to tlie territorial claim, separate from tlierijiht of traffic 

 with the natives aiul from any syiStem of colonial exclusions, we are 

 willing- to agree to the boundary-line within which the Emperor Paul 

 had granted exclusive privileges to the Kussian-American Company, 

 that is to say, latitude 5.")°. 



If the llussian (xovernment apprehended serious inconvenience from 

 the illicit traflic of foreigners with their Settlements on the north-west 

 coast, it may be etfectually guarded against by stijtulatious similar to 

 those a draft of which is herewith subjoined, and to which you are 

 authorized, on the part of the United States, to agree. 



As the P>ritish And)assador at St. L*etersburgh is authori/^ed and 

 instructed to negotiate likewise upon this subject, it may be pro]»er to 

 adjust the interests and claims of the thiee I'owers by a Joint Conven- 

 tion. Your full jiower is prcpaied accordingly. 



Instructions confornnible to these will be torwarded to Mr. Kush, at 

 Loiulon, with authority to coninuinicat<' with the British (xovernment 

 in relati(m to this int<'rest, and to coirespond with you coiu'erning it, 

 with a view to the maintenance of the rights ol' the United States. 

 I a>m, 4&G. 



(Signed) John Quincy Adams. 



No. 4. 



Mr. Adams to Mr. Rush. 



Department of State, 



W<tsJiiii;ifo)t, Jiih/iKJ, IS 23. 



Sir : Among the STd)jects of negotiation with (ireat Britain which 

 are pressing- ui)on the attention of t liis (lo^<'rnnlent is the present con- 

 dition of the north west coast of this continent. This interest is con- 

 nected, in a manner becoming from day to day more important, with our 

 territorial rights; with tlu' wliole system of our intercourse with the 

 Indian tribes; with the boundary relations between us and the British 

 North American dominion; with the fur trade; the hsheries in the 

 Pacific Ocean; the commerce with the Sandwich Islands and China; 

 with our boundary upon Mexico; and lastly, Avith our political standing" 

 and intercourse with the Russian Um])ire. . . . 



By the Ukase of the Emperor Alexander of the 4th (lOth) September, 

 1821, an exclusive territorial right on the north-west coast of America 

 is asserted as belonging to Ilussia, and as extending- from the northern 

 extremity of the continent to hit itude 51°, and the navigation and tishery 

 of all other nations are interdicted by the same Ukase to the extent of 

 100 Italian miles from the coast. 



When M. Poletica, the late liussian Minister here, was called u[)on 

 to set forth the grounds of right conformable to the laws of nations 

 which autlu)rized the issuing of this Decree, he answered in his letters 

 of the 28th February and 2nd Ajuil, 1822, by alleging- first discovery, 

 occupancy, and uninterrupted jiossession. . . . 



The United States and Great Britain have both i)rotested against the 

 Russian ]m])erial Ukase of the 4th (Kith) Septend)er, 1821. 



At the proposal of the llussian Government a full power and instruc- 

 tions are now transmitted to Mr. Middletou for the adjustment, by 

 amicable negotiation, of the conflicting claims of the parties on this 

 subject. 



