CORRESPONDENCE OF 1S22-1825. 133 



ranged by treaty between the parties. To exclude the vessels of our 

 citizens from the shore, beyond the ordinary distance to which the ter- 

 ritorial jurisdiction extends, has excited still greater surprise. 



This ordinance affects so deeply the rights of the United States and 

 of their citizens that I am instructed to inquire whether you are author- 

 ized to give explanations of the grounds of right, upon principles gen- 

 erally recognized by the laws and usages of nations, which can warrant 

 the claims and regulations contained in it. 

 I avail, etc., 



John Quincy Adams. 



31. de Poletica to Mr. Adams. 



Washington, Fehrnary 28, 1822. 



M. de Poletica replied on the 28th of the same month, and after giv- 

 ing a summary of historical incidents which seemed to him to establish 

 the title of Russia to the territories in question by first discovery, said: 



" I shall be more succiut, sir, in the exposition of the motives which 

 determined the Im^Derial Government to prohibit foreign vessels from 

 approaching the northwest coast of America belonging to Russia within 

 the distance of at least 100 Italian miles. This measure, however severe 

 it may at first appear, is, after all, but a measure of prevention. It is 

 exclusively directed againstthe culpable enterprises of foreign adventur- 

 ers, who, not content with exercising upon the coasts above mentioned 

 an illicit trade very prejudicial to the rights reserved entirely to the 

 Russian American Company, take upon them besides to furnish arms and 

 ammunition to the natives in the Russian possessions in America, ex- 

 citing them likewise in every manner to resist and revolt against the 

 authorities there established. 



"The American Government doubtless recollects that the irregular 

 conduct of these adventurers, the majority of whom was composed of 

 American citizens, has been the object of the most pressing remon- 

 strances on the part of Russia to the Federal Government from the 

 time that diplomatic missions were organized between the countries. 

 These remonstrances, repeated at ditierent times, remain constantly 

 without effect, and the inconveniences to which they ouglit to bring a 

 remedy continue to increase. * * * Pacificmeansnot having brought 

 any alleviation to the just grievances of the Russian American Com- 

 panj^ against foreign navigators in the waters which envnY)n their estab- 

 lishments on tJie northwest coast of America, the Imperial Government 

 saw itself under the necessity of having recourse to the means of coer- 

 cion, and of measuring the rigor according to the inveterate character 

 of the evil to which it wished to put a stop. * * * 



" I ought, in the last place, to request you to consider, sir, that the 

 Russian possessions in the Pacific Ocean extend, on the northwest coast 

 of America, from Behring's Strait to the fifty-first degree of north lati- 

 tude, and on the opposite side of Asia and the islands adjacent, from 

 the same strait to the forty-fifth degree. The extent of sea of which 

 these possessions form the limits comprehends all the conditions which 

 are ordinarily attached to shut seas (mers fermees), and the Russian 

 Government might consequently judge itself authorized to exercise 

 upon this sea the right of sovereignty, and especially that of entirely 

 interdicting the entrance of foreigners. But it preferred only assert- 

 ing its essential rights, without taking any advantage of localities." 



[A full copy of the above letter will be found in the Korth American 

 Review, volume xv, p. 370, (1822).] 



