376 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
An answer to this (copies inclosed) appeared in the New York 
341 “Evening Post,” the author of which is Mr. Robert Rayner, who 
has already written a very able letter on this subject. 
I have, &e. 
(Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. 
{Inclosure 1 in No. 245.] 
Extract from the ‘*San Francisco Argonaut” of August 12, 1889. 
THE QUESTION OF BEHRING’S SEA. 
[By Charles N. Felton.] 
[The annexed article, by the Honourable Charles N. Felton, Member of Congress, 
will be found of much interest, particularly at this time. Mr. Felton is thoroughly 
conversant with the subject, as he was a member of the Conference Committee 
between the Senate and the House which caused the passage of the Lill amendatory 
of the Laws regulating the fur-seal fisheries in Behring’s Sea. This Bill was passed 
during the closing hours of the Cleveland Administration.—Ebs. ] 
In view of the fact that the Government of the United States has seized the 
British schooner “ Black Diamond,” confiscated the vessel and cargo, as required by 
our Statutes, for evasion or infringement of our laws, and that our right to do so is 
questioned, and perhaps may become an international question, it occurs to me that 
a statement of the facts upon which is based our rights and title would not be 
uninteresting to your readers; hence, I will attempt to; give them such a statement. 
The title of the United States to Alaska and the Behring’ s Sea was acquired from 
Russia by the Treaty of Cession made in 1868, in which she “ceded and cony eyed 
all the rights, franchises, privileges now belonging to Russia in the ceded territory 
or dominion, and appurtenances thereto ;” the same being contained within the 
geographical limits herein set forth, to wit: 
The eastern limit is the line of demarcation between the Russian and British 
possessions in North America, &c. The western limit, within which the territories 
and dominion conveyed are contained, pass through a point in Behring’s Strait om 
the parallel of 65° 30’ north latitude, at its intersection by the meridian which 
passes midway between the Island of Krusenstern or Tgnalook and the Island of 
Ratmanov or Noonarbrook, and proceeds due north, without limitation, into the 
same frozen ocean. The same western limit, beginning at the same initial point, 
proceeds thence in a course nearly south-west through Behring’s Strait and Belring’s: 
Sea, so as to pass midway between the Island of Attoo and the Copper Island, of 
the Kormandorski couplet or group, in the North Pacific Ocean, to the meridian of 
193° west longitude, so as to include the whole of the Aleutian Islands east of that. 
meridian.” 
Russia’s title was based upon the following facts: 
Behring’s Sea, formerly called the Sea of Kamchatka, was discovered by Vitus: 
Behring, a Russian subject and officer, in 1725. From that date to that of the pur- 
chase of Alaska by the United States, its waters were surrounded by Russian terri- 
tory, except Behring’s Strait upon the north, and the south-west outlet to the North 
Pacitic Ocean. Soon after its discovery, it was occupied by Russian citizens as: 
traders and fur-hunters, and several trading stations were established upon its coasts: 
and islands by Russian subjects. 
In 1745, the Aleutian Islands were discovered by Russia. In 1768, Beliring’s Sea,. 
the whole archipelago, and the Peninsula of Alaska, were explored by an expedi- 
tion ordered by the Empress Catherine. Subsequently, Russia caused four other 
exploring expeditions to be made, in 1785, 1803, 1815, and 1826. Vancouver discoy- 
ered the coast of British Columbia in 1790, and in the same year the Columbia River 
was entered by Gray. Jt will be here noted that Russia’s discoveries and titles on 
the north-western coast antedate those of the other nations some sixty-five years. 
In 1764, the Russian Government granted the right to trade on the Aleutian 
Islands to a Russian Company, who created and conducted a considerable number 
of trading stations. 
In 1799, the then Russian Emperor Paul issued his Imperial Ukase, asserting the . 
Dominion of Russia, by right of discovery and occupancy, to all the territory 
342 embraced from Behring’s Strait on the north to the 55th parallel on the Amer- 
ican coast, and as far south as Japan on the coast of Asia; and invested the 
Russian-American Company with its absolute control, and, if necessary, the land 
and naval forces of the Empire were ordered to maintain their jurisdiction. To 
