APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 267 
“T ought, in the last place, to request you to consider, Sir, that the Russian pos- 
sessions in the Pacific Ocean extend, on the, north-west coast of Americ a, from Beh- 
ring’s Strait to the 51st degree of north latitude, and on the opposite side of Asia 
and the islands adjacent, from the same strait to the 45th degree. The extent of sea 
of which these possessions form the limits comprehends all the conditions which are 
ordinarily attached to shut seas (‘‘mers feymées”), and the Russian Government 
might consequently judge itself authorized to exercise upon this sea the right of 
sovereignty, and especially that of entirely interdicting the entrance of foreigners. 
But it preterred only asserting its essential rights without taking any advantage of 
localities.” 
My. Adams to Mr. Poletica. 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 30, 1822. 
Sir: T have had the honour of receiving your letter of the 28th ultimo, which has 
been submitted to the consideration of the President of the United States. 
From the deduction which it contains of the grounds upon which Articles of Regu- 
lation of the Russian-American Company have 1 now, for the first time, extended the 
claim of Russia on the norti-west coast of America to the 51st degree of north lati- 
tude, its only foundation appears to be the existence of the small Settlement of Novo 
Archangelsk, situated, not on the American continent, but upon a small island in 
Jatitude 57°; and the principle upon which you state that this claim is now advanced 
is that the51st degrce isexquidistant from the Settlement of Novo Archangelsk and the 
establishment of the United States at the mouth of the Columbia River. But, from 
the same statement, it appears that, im the year 1799, the limits prescribed by the 
Kmperor Paul to the Russian-American Company were fixed at the 55th degree of 
latitude, and that, in assuming now the latitude 57°, a new pretension is asserted, to 
which no settlement made since the year 1799 has given the colour of a sanction. 
This pretension is to be considered not only with reference to the question of terri- 
torial right, but also to that prohibition to the vessels of other nations, including 
those of the United States, to approach within 100 Italian miles of the coasts. 
From the period of the existence of the United States as an independent nation, 
their vessels have freely navigated those seas, and the right to navigate them is a 
part of that independence. 
With regard to the suggestion that the Russian Government might have justified 
the exercise of sovereignty over the Pacific Ocean as a close sea, because it claims 
territory both on its American and Asiatic shores, it may suffice to say that the 
distance from shore to shore on this sea, in latitude 51° north, is not less than 90 
degrees of longitude, or 4,000 miles. 
As little can the United States accede to the justice of the reason assigned for the 
prohibition above mentioned. The right of the citizens of the United States to hold 
commerce with the aboriginal natives of the north-west coast of America, without 
the territorial jurisdiction of other nations, even in arms and munitions of war, is 
as clear and indisputable as that of navigating theseas. That right has never been 
exercised in a spirit unfriendly to Russi: 05 and, although general complaints have 
occasionally been made on the subject of this commerce by some of your predeces- 
sors, no specific ground of charge has ever been alleged by them of any transaction 
in it which the United States were, by the ordinary laws and usages of nations, 
bound either to restrain or to punish. Had any such charge been made, it would 
lave received the most pointed attention of this Government, with the sincerest and 
firmest disposition to perform every act and obligation of justice to yours which 
could have been required. J am commanded by the President of the United States 
to assure you that this disposition will continue to be entertained, together with the 
earnest desire that the harmonious relations between the two countries may be pre- 
served. 
Relying upon the assurance in your note of similar dispositions reciprocally enter- 
tained by His Imperial Majesty towards the United States, the President is persuaded 
that the citizens of this Union will remain nnmolested in the prosecution of their 
lawful commerce, and that no etfect will be given to an interdiction manifestly 
incompatible with their rights. 
Iam, «&c, 
(Signed) JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, 
