[white] RUSSIAN AMERICA (ALASKA)— TREATY OF 1825 67 



In December, 1823, President Monroe, in his Message to Con- 

 gress, set forth the so-called "Monroe doctrine" which declared that 

 the American continents were, thenceforth, "not to be considered 

 as subjects for future colonization by any European power." 



In the same month, Rush proposed that Russia be limited on 

 the south by latitude 55°, that Great Britain be limited on the west 

 coast to latitude 51°N. to 55 °N. and the United States on the north 

 by latitude 51°N. As Great Britain had repeatedly refused to accept 

 49° and, as she was in joint occupation of the country as far south 

 as 42°, this proposition did not err on the side of modesty.^ 



Thenceforth, the negotiations proceeded separately. 



April 17, 1824, the United States and Russia signed a treaty 

 whereby it was agreed that citizens of the United States would not 

 form any establishment upon the northwest coast of America north 

 of latitude 54° 40' and that Russian subjects would not form any 

 south of the same parallel. 



In April and in August, 1824, Bagot made further concessions, 

 but his proposals were rejected; doubtless owing to George Canning's 

 strong opposition to the Holy Alliance which had given great offence 

 to Russia. 



As it was evident that Bagot could not accomplish anything, he 

 was transferred to The Hague. Stratford Canning succeeded Bagot 

 in December, 1824, and the treaty was signed February 28, 1825. 



The correspondence contained in this contribution was confidential 

 and has not hitherto been published. It throws considerable light 

 upon the secret opposition of the United States and demonstrates 

 the insincerity of Middleton, the American minister. 



Sir Charles Bagot to Mr. George Canning 



St. Petersburgh, Oct., 5, 1823 



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I have had one or two preparatory and informal conversations with Mr. 

 Poletica upon our North West Coast business, but we are purposely delaying 

 matters to give time for the arrival of Mr. Hughes, the American Charge d' 

 Affaires at Stockholm, who is expected here every day with instructions for Mr. 



1 On January 23, 1824, Stratford Canning, British minister, to the United 

 States, wrote Sir Charles Bagot: "there are so many points of rivalship between the 

 two countries, with so much of prejudice on the one side and so much forwardness, 

 not to say impudence, on the other, that I almost despair of ever seeing my wishes 

 on that subject realized. I see that you are about to plunge into your Northwestern 

 negotiations, and I congratulate you most heartily on having at least to swim in that 

 element without an attendant Yankee offering a cork-jacket, and watching his 

 opportunity to put your head under water." 



