80 



owu interests ugaiust tlie possibility of its future operation." British 

 Case, Vol. 2, Ax>p., 73. 



The opiiositioii of Great Britain to Eussia's claim of maritime su- 

 premacy within 100 Italian miles from the coasts mentioned in the 

 Ukase of 1821 was not more decided or persistent than that of the 

 United States. The action taken by the United States is not irrele- 

 vant to the present discussion, because, as will presently appear, its 

 counsel insists that Eussia's treaty of 1825 with Great Britain is to be 

 interpreted to mean just what the treaty of 1824 with the United States 

 was understood by Eussia, with the knowledge of the United States, 

 to mean. 



Eeferring to the reasons assigned by M. Poletica upon which Eussia 

 based the territorial and maritime claims asserted in that Ukase, Mr. 

 Adams, the American Secretary of State, said, in reply: "This pre- 

 tenvsion is to be considered not only with reference to the question of 

 territorial right, but also to that prohibition to the vessels of other 

 nations, including those of the United States, to approach within 100 

 Italian miles of the coasts. From the period of the existence of the 

 United States as an independent nation, their vessels have freely 

 navigated those seas, and the right to navigate them is a part of that 

 independence." Again: "As little can the United States accede to 

 the justice of the reason assigned for the prohibition above mentioned. 

 Therightof the citizens of the United States to hold commerce with the 

 aboriginalnativesof the northwest coast of America, without the terri- 

 torial jurisdiction of other nations, even inarms and munitions of war, 

 is as clear and indisputable as that of navigating the seas. That right 

 has never been exercised in a spirit unfriendly to Eussia ; and, although 

 general complaints have occasionally been made on the subject of this 

 commerce by some of your predecessors, no specific ground of charge 

 has ever been alleged by them of any transaction in it by which the 

 United States were, by the ordinary laws and usages of nations, bound 

 either to restrain or punish. Had any such charge been made, it would 

 have received the most pointed attention of this Government, with the 

 sincerest and firmest disposition to perform every act and obligation of 

 justice to yours which could have been required. I am commanded by 

 the President of the United States to assure you that this disposition 

 will continue to be entertained, together with the earnest desire that 

 the harmonious relations between the two countries may be i^reserved. 



