PERIOD PRECEDING THE TREATIES. 19 



not impute to Russia an intention to treat the one- Character of 



control claim e d 



hundred-mile belt as territory belonging- to her, over Bering Sea. 

 with the right to exclude therefrom vessels of 

 other nations for all purposes. Nor have the 

 United States any wish to dispute the construc- 

 tion given by the British Government at pp. 38 

 to 40 of its Case, so far as it is designed to show 

 that the main purpose of the ukase of 1821 was 

 the protection of Russian interests upon the 

 shores of the colonies, and that its maritime pro- 

 visions were only intended to serve the purpose 

 of effectually carrying out such protection. 



The distinction between the right of exclusive No exclusive 



territorial jnris- 



territorial jurisdiction over Bering Sea, on the diction claimed, 

 one hand, and the right of a nation, on the other 

 hand, to preserve for the use of its citizens its 

 interests on land by the adoption of all necessary, 

 even though they be somewhat unusual, meas- 

 ures, whether on land or at sea, is so broad as to 

 require no further exposition. It is the latter 

 right, not the former, that the United States con- 

 tend to have been exercised, first by Russia, and 

 later by themselves. 



The ukase of 1821 evoked strong protests, Protests against 



° L ' ukase, and result- 



and the character of these protests is explained at ing treaties - 

 pages 50 and 51 of the Case of the United States. 

 It is further pointed out at pages 52 and 53 

 that in the treaties resulting from these protests 



