276 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



were not accurately known, and from tliat can.setliey were exag-.^cratech 

 The Kussians wiio were to be affected by the treaty were in doubt as 

 to the possible extent ini])lie(l by the phrase " IS^orth west Coast of Amer- 

 ica," asr eferred to in the third and fourth articles. The phrase, as 1 

 have before said, was used in two senses, and they feared it might have 

 such a construction as wonld carry the American privilege to the straits 

 ofBehring. They feared, moreover, that the uncertainty of the coast 

 referred to in article 3 might, by construction adverse to Russia, in- 

 clude the Bering Sea among the seas and gulfs mentioned in article 

 4. If that construction should pre\'ail, not only the American coast, 

 but the coast of Siberia and the Aleutian coasts might also be thrown 

 open to the ingress of American fishermen. So great and genuine was 

 their fright that they were able to induce the llnssian Government to 

 demand a fresh discussion of the treaty before they would consent to 

 exchange ratifications. 



It is easy, therefore, to discern the facts which caused the difierence 

 in precision between the American and British treaties with Kussia, 

 and which at the same tinu^ give conclusive force to the argument stead- 

 ily maintained by the Government of the United States. These facts 

 have thus far only been hinted at, and I have the right to presume that 

 they have not yet fixllen under the observation of Lord Salisbury. The 

 President hopes that after the facts are presented the American con- 

 tention will no longer be denied or resisted by Her Majesty's Govern- 

 ment. 



Nearly eight months after the Eusso-American treaty was negotiated, 

 and before the exchange of ratifications had yet taken place, there was 

 a remarkable interview between Secretary Adams and the Russian 

 Minister. 1 quote from Mr. Adams's diary, December 0, 1824: 



6th, Monday. — Baron Tuyl, the Russian Minister, wrote me a note requesting an 

 immediate interview, in consequence of instructions received yesterday from bis 

 Court. He came, and after intimating that he was under some embarrassment in 

 executing his instructions, said that the Russian- American Company, upon learning 

 the purport of the Northwest Coast convention concluded last June by Mr. jSIiddleton, 

 were extremely dissatisfied {ajete de hauts oris), and, by means of tlieir intlneucc, liad 

 prevailed upon his Government to send him these instructions upon two points. One 

 was that lie sliould deliver, upon the exchange of the ratifications of the convention, 

 an explanatory note purporting that the Russian Government did not understand 

 that the convention would give liberty to the citizens of the United States to trade 

 on the coast of Siberia and the Aleutian Islands. The other was to pnqiose a modifi- 

 cation of the convention, by which our vessels should be prohibited from trading 

 on tlic Nortliwest Coast north of latitude 57°. With regard to the former of these 

 points he left with me a minute in writing. 



With this preliminary statement Baron Tuyl, in accordance with 

 instructions from his Government, submitted to Mr. Adams the follow- 

 ing note: 



EXPLANATORY NOTE FROM RUSSIA. 



Explanatory note to be presented to the Government of the United States at the 

 time of the exchange of ratifications, with a view to removing Avith more certainty 

 all occasion for I'uture discussions; by menus of which note it will be seen that the 

 Aleutian Islaiid.s, the coasts of iSiberia, and the h'axsian J'ossessioiis in general on the 

 Northwest Coast of America to 50'^ SO' of north latUnde are positively exce]ited from the 

 liberty of hunting, fishing, and commerce stijuilated in favor of citizens of the 

 United States for ten years. 



This seems to be only a natural consequence of the sTjipulations agreed upon, for 

 the coasts of Siberia are washed by the Sea of Okhotsk, the Sea of Kamscliatka, 

 and the Icy S(!a, and not by the South Sea mentioned in the first article of the conven- 

 tion of Apiil 5-17 [1S24]. The Aleutian Islands are also washed by the Sea of Kam- 

 Bchatka, or Northern Ocean. 



It is not the intention of Russia to impede the free navifiation of the Pacific Ocean. 

 She would be satisfied with causing to be recognized, as well understood and placed 



