JURISDICTIONAL RIGHTS IN BERING SEA. 257 



[Inclosure 7.] 

 Hie Dulce of Wellimjton to Count Lievcn. 



Verona, November 2S, iS!?2. 



M. LE Comte: Having considered the paper which your excellency gave nie last 

 night, on the part of his excellency Count Nesselrode, on the subject of our discus- 

 sions on the Russian ukase, I must inform you that I can not consent, on the part of 

 my Government, to found on that paper the negotiation for the settlement of the 

 question which has arisen hetween the two Governments on this subject. 



We object to the ukase on two grounds: (1) That His Imperial Majesty assumes 

 thereby an exclusive sovereignty in North America, of which we are not prepared to 

 acknowledge the existence or the extent; \\\wn this point, however, the memoir of 

 Count Nesselrode does afford the means of negotiation; and my Government will be 

 ready to discuss it, either in London or St. Petersburg, whenever the state of the 

 :liscussion8 on the other question arising out of the ukase will allow of the discussion. 



The second ground on which we object to the ukase is that His Imperial Majesty 

 thereby excludes from a certain considerable extent of the open sea vessels of other 

 nations. We contend that the assumption of this power is contrary to the law of 

 nations; and we can not found a negotiation upon a paper in Avhich it is again 

 broadly asserted. We contend that no power whatever can exclude another from 

 the use of the open sea; a power can exclude itself from the navigation of a certain 

 coast, sea, etc., by its own act or engagement', but it can not by right be excluded 

 by another. This we consider as the law of nations ; and we can not negotiate upon 

 a paper in which a right is asserted inconsistent with this principle. 



I think, therefore, that the best mode of proceeding would be that you should 

 state your readiness to negotiate upon the whole subject, without restating the ob- 

 jectionable principle of the ukase which we can not admit. 

 I have, etc., 



Wellington. 



[Inclosure 8 ] 



Tlie Dulce of WcJIiiKjton to Mr. G. Canning. 



Veuona, Novemher 2D, 1822. 

 Sir: Since I wrote to you yesterday I have had another conversation with the 

 Russian Minister regarding the ukase. It is now settled that both the memoran- 

 dums which I inclosed to you should be considered as non avv.nas, and the Russian 

 Ambassador in London is to address you a note in answer to that of the late Lord 

 Londonderry, assuring you of the desire of the Emperor to negotiate with you upon 

 the whole (luestion of the Emperor's claims in North America, reserving tliem all if 

 the negotiation should not be satisfactory to both parties. 



This note will then put this matter in a train of negotiation, which is what was 

 wished. 



1 have, etc., 



Wellington. 



[Inclosure 9.] 

 Count Lieccn to Mr. G. Canning. 



A la stiite des declarations verbales que le soussigno, Anibassadeur Extraordi- 

 naire et Pl^nipoteutiaire de Sa Majeste I'Empcreur de toutesles Russies, a faites au 

 Ministire de Sa Majeste Britannique, le Cabinet de St. James a du se convaincre 

 que si des objections s'etaient eleves contrele reglementpubli6 aunomde Sa Majeste 

 I'Empereur de toutes les Russies sous la date du 4 (16) septembre 1821, les mesures 

 ulterieures adoptees par Sa Majest6 Impcriale ne laissent aucuu donte sur lapuretd 

 de ses vues et sur le desir qu'elle aura toujours de concilier ses droits et ses interets 

 avec les interets et les droits des Puissances auxquelles I'uuisseut les liens d'uno 

 amiti6 v('ritable et d'uue bienveillance rtSciproque. 



Avant de (luitter Vdrone, le soussigiK^ a re^ul'ordre dedonnerau Gouvernementde 

 Sa Majesty Bi-itannique une nouvelle preuve des dispositions connues de I'Empereur, 

 en proposant a son excellence M. Canning, Principal Secretaire d'Etat de Sa Majeste 

 Brita.nni([ue pour les Affaires Etrangcres, sans que cette proposition puisse porter 

 atteinte iiuix droits de Sa Majeste Impcriale, si elle u'est pas acceptee, que de part et 



33 



