APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 553 
“Tn the discussions to which this interest has given rise, and in the arrangements 
by which they may terminate, the occasion has been judged proper for asserting, as 
a principle in which the rights and interests of the United States are involved, that 
the American Continents, by the free and independent condilion which they have 
501 assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future 
colonization by any Luropean Power.” 
This very brief declaration (in fact, merely the three lines italicized) constitutes 
the famous ‘‘ Monroe doctrine.” Mr. Adams’ words of the July preceding clearly 
foreshadowed this position as the permanent policy of the United States. The 
declaration removes the last doubt, if room for doubt had been left, that the refer- 
ence made by Mr. Adams was to the future, and had no possible connection with the 
Russian rights existing for three-quarters of a century before the despatch of 1823 
was written. 
It was evident from the first that the determined attitude of the United States, 
subsequently supported by Great britain, would prevent the extension of Russian 
territory southward to the 51st parallel. The Treaties which were the result of the 
meeting at St. Petersburgh, already noted, marked the surrender on the part of 
Russia of this pretension, and the conclusion was a joint Agreement that 50° 40/ 
should be taken as the extreme southern boundary of Russia on the north-west coast 
instead of the 55th degree which was proclaimed by the Emperor Paul in the Ukase 
of 1799. The Treaty between Russia and the United States was concluded on the 
17th April, 1824, and that between Russia and Great Britain ten months later, on the 
16th February, 1825. In both Treaties Russia acknowledged 54° 40! as the dividing 
line. It was not determined which of the two nations owned the territory from 
54° 40’ down to the 49th parallel, and it remained in dispute between Great Britain 
and the United States until its final adjustment by the “ Oregon Treaty ” negotiated 
by Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Pakenham under the Administration of Mr. Polk in 1846. 
The Government of the United States has steadily maintained that in neither of 
these ‘Treaties with Russia was there any attempt at regulating or controlling or 
even asserting an interest in the Russian possessions and the Behring’s Sea which 
lie far to the north and west of the territory which formed the basis of the conten- 
tion. This conclusion is indisputably proved by the Protocols which were signed 
during the progress of the negotiation. At the fourth conference of the Plenipo- 
tentiaries on the 8th March, 1824, the American Minister, Mr. Henry Middleton, 
submitted to the Russian Representative, Count Nesselrode, the following: 
“The dominion cannot be acquired but by a real occupation and possession, and 
an intention (‘animus’) to establish it is by no means sufficient.” 
Now, it is clear, according to the facts established, that neither Russia nor any 
other Power has the right of Gominion upon the Continent of America between the 
50th and 60th degrees of north latitude. 
Still less has she the dominion of the adjacent maritime territory, or of the sea 
which washes these coasts, a dominion which is only accessory to the territorial 
dominion. 
Therefore, she has not the right of exclusion or of admission on these coasts, nor 
in these seas, which are free seas. 
The right of navigating all the free seas belongs, by natural law, to every inde- 
pendent nation, and even constitutes an essential part of this independence. 
The United States have exercised navigation in the seas and commerce upon the 
coasts above mentioned from the time of their independence; and they have a per- 
fect right to this navigation and to this commerce, and they can only be deprived of 
it by their own act or a Convention. 
This is a clear proof of what is demonstrated in other ways, that the whole dis- 
pute between the United States and Russia, and between Great Britain and Russia, 
related toe the north-west coast, as Mr. Middleton expresses it, between the “50th 
and the 60th degrees of north latitude.” This statement is in perfect harmony with 
Mr. Adams’ paragraph when given in full. ‘ Phe United States,” Mr. Middleton 
insists, ‘‘ have exercised navigation in the seas and commerce upon the coasts above 
mentioned from the time of their independence; ” but he does not say one word in 
regard to our possessing any rights of navigation or commerce in the Belring’s Sea. 
He declares that Russia has not the right of exclusion or admission on these coasts 
(between the 50th and the 60th degrees north latitude) nor in these seas, which are 
free seas, evidently emphasizing ‘‘free” to distinguish those seas from the Behring’s 
Sea, which was recognized as being under Russian restrictions. 
Mr. Middleton wisely and conclusively maintained that if Russia had no claim to 
the continent between the 50th and 60th degrees north latitude, ‘still less could 
she have the dominion of the adjacent maritime territory,” or, to make it more 
specific, “of the sea which washes these coasts.” That sea was the Great Ocean, or 
ue South Sea, or the Pacific Ocean, the three names being equally used for the same 
thing. 
