PERIOD PRECEDING THE TREATIES. 17 



"no claim has been advanced by Russia which Distinction be- 

 tween Bering Sea 



could possibly render a distinction between region and Pacific 



v/C6£LR« 



Behring Sea and the main Pacific of the slightest 

 importance" (British Case, p. 60). The United 

 States have devoted a portion of their Case, 

 under the title "Claims to the Northwest Coast" 

 (pp. 26 to 33), to showing- that the part of the 

 American continent which is washed by the 

 North Pacific Ocean was being constantly visited 

 by vessels of all nations, and that serious con- 

 flicts arose as to the trading rights there. Indeed, 

 of all the voyages of foreign vessels, whether 

 for discovery or trade, enumerated at pp. 14 to 

 20 and 29 to 31 of the British Case, not more 

 than two or three relate to the shores and 

 waters of Bering Sea. The fact is, that, while 

 Russia's title to everything south and east of the 

 Alaskan Peninsula was, in the early part of this 

 century, in serious dispute, her title to the 

 coasts north of this peninsula and to the Aleutian 

 Islands, based upon prior discovery and occupa- 

 tion, was admitted on all sides, and her rights 

 there were respected by all nations. This has 

 already been pointed out. 1 



The British contention (British Case, pp. 33, 

 35, 64) that the United States contested Russia's 



Appendix to Case of the United States, Vol. I, pp. 12, 13, 

 especially the extracts from tlie Quarterly Review and the North 

 American Review. 



12364^—2 



