138 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



a sufficient knowledge of the weighty reasons that have induced the Government of 

 the said States to protest against the changes made in the regulations governing 

 foreign conunerce in those parts of the Russian possessions that are situated on tlie 

 Pacitic coast. . 



If all the powers, and especially commercial nations, are interested m the main- 

 tenance of maritime rights unimpau-ed, it is not to be doubted tliat the President of 

 the United States has learned, with the deepest concern, that the aforesaid regula- 

 lations have been sanctioned by a power which has long been loudly regarded as a 

 Ijrotector of the freedom of navigation against all unjust pretensions; for he must, 

 with reason, fear the inlluence of such an example, and must also feai- lest nations 

 possessing preponderating power at sea may avail themselves thereof to justify abuses 

 of power by tlie example of those which should he most interested in upholding the 

 universal rights of nations. 



Since the President cannot close his eyes to thefact that public opinion is greatly 

 opposed to these regulations, and is fully convinced that it is quite impossible for 

 the United States Government to acquiesce in them, he has thought proper, not only 

 in view of his feelings of friendship for His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, 

 hut of the uprightness of intention of Avhich he is conscious, and of the frankness 

 which he uses on all occasions, not to leave the Imperial Government in uncertainty 

 with regard to his determination to upliold the rights and interests of his fellow-cit- 

 izens, and to insist that the United States and their subjects shall still have, as they 

 have had in the past, full liberty to sail in the Pacific Ocean and off the coasts of the 

 neighboring countries within the limits recognized by the law of nations. 



A careful perusal of the correspondence which has recently been exchanged at 

 Washington in relation to the aforesaid regulations cannot fail to show that a state 

 of Avar hetween the two powers exists already, owing to the principles that have 

 been avowed on both sides. Nothing is lacking to make this complete except a 

 declaration or acts of vicdence, which latter cannot be long in coming, unless pre- 

 cautionary measures be at once taken. 



It is especially owing to this circumstance that the departure of Mr. Poletica, 

 without having "been authorized to enter upon a discussion of our mutual rights and 

 duties, is to be regretted. 



Under present circumstances it is very desirable that there should be a suspension 

 of the territorial claims of Russia to the border regions of the United States, with- 

 out prejudice to the respective rights of the powers interested, until the settlement 

 of the boundaries by a treaty, but it is especially necessary, for the avoidance of 

 any complications that might arise through hostilities, that the Russian Govern- 

 ment should abstain from putting into execution the measures ordered by the ukase 

 ' of September 4, 1821, and that it should consent to revoke the orders issued to its 

 vessels of war, if any such have been issued authorizing those measures to be put 

 into execution. 



In the fear of jeopardizing more important interests than those just now under 

 consideratiou, and in order not to run any risks that foresight may prevent, the 

 undersigned deems it his duty to make this representation, and he earnestly hopes 

 that the Imperial Government will see, and will avert by acting upon these sugges- 

 tions, the dangers which threaten to disturb the good understanding which so hap- 

 pily exists between the two countries. 



(Signed) H'y Middletox. 



St. PETERSiiURG, Juhj 24ih, 1S.12. 



[Tnclosiire Xo. 2.] 



The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of theUnited 

 States of xVniei-ica, has the honor to call the attention of his excellency the Secretary 

 of State, Count Nesselrode, to the correspondence which has recently taken jdace 

 between the Envoy of Russia in the United States and the Secretary of State of the 

 United States. 



The correspondence has probably sufficiently made known the reasons which tlio 

 United States have alleged for not'agreeing to the regulations adopted by the Russian 

 American Company lor the government of foreign commerce in those parts of their 

 possessions that are on the Pacitic coast. 



air. Poletica's departure from the United States, without having been authorized 

 to enter more fully upon the discussion of our recijirocal rights and duties, is to be 

 regretted exceedingly, because the divergence of the opinions avowed on both sides 

 may give rise, by its duration, to acts of violence which will occasion annoyiug 

 comi)lications. 



In the mean time the undersigned deems it his duty to inquire what the intentions 



