APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 513 
Mr. Stratford Canning, in his despatch of the 1st March, 1825, inclos- 
ing the Convention as signed, says: 
With respect to Behring’s Straits, I am happy to have it in my power to assure you 
on the joint authority of the Russian Pienipotentiaries, that the Emperor of Russia 
has no intention whatever of maintaining any exclusive claim to the navigation of 
these Straits, or of the seas to the north of them. 
These extracts show conclusively: (1) that England refused to admit 
any part of the Russian claim asserted by the Ukase of 1821 to a mari- 
time jurisdiction and exclusive right of fishing throughout the whole 
extent of that claim, from Behring’s Straits to the 51st parallel; (2) 
that the Convention of 1825 was regarded on both sides as a renuncia- 
tion on the part of Russia of that claim in its entirety; and (3) that 
though Behring’s Straits was known and specifically provided for, Beh- 
ring’s Sea was not known by that name, but was regarded as part of the 
Pacific Ocean. 
The answer, therefore, to the questions with which Mr. Blaine con- 
cludes his despatch is that Her Majesty’s Government have always 
claimed the freedom of navigation and fishing in the waters of Beh- 
ring’s Sea outside the usual territorial limit of 1 marine league from the 
coast; that it is impossible to admit that a public right to fish, catch 
Seals, or pursue any other Jawful occupation on the high seas can be 
held to be abandoned by a nation from the mere fact that for a certain 
number of years it has not suited the subjects of that nation to exer- 
cise it. 
It must be remembered that British Columbia has come into exist- 
ence as a Colony at a comparatively recent date, and that the first 
considerable influx of population, some thirty years ago, was due to the 
discovery of gold, and did not tend to an immediate development of 
the shipping interest. 
I have to request that you will communicate a copy of this despatch, 
and of its inclosures, to Mr. Blaine. You will state that her Maj- 
esty’s Government have no desire whatever to refuse to the United 
States any jurisdiction in Behring’s Sea which was conceded by Great 
Britain to Russia, and which properly accrues to the present 
520 possessors of Alaska in virtue of Treaties or the law of nations; 
and that if the United States Government, after examination of 
the evidence and arguments which I have produced, still differ from 
them as to the legality of the recent captures in that sea, they are ready 
to agree that the question, with the issues that depend upon it, should 
be referred to impartial arbitration. You will in that case be author- 
ized to consider, in concert with Mr. Blaine, the method of procedure 
to be followed. 
Tam, We. 
(Signed) SALISBURY. 
[Inclosure 1 in No. 382.] 
Lord Londonderry to Count Lieven. 
FOREIGN OFFICE, January 18, 1822. 
The Undersigned has the honour hereby to acknowledge the note addressed to 
him by Baron de Nicolai, of the 12th November last, covering a copy of an Ukase 
issued by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, and bearing date the 
4th September, 1821, for various purposes therein set forth, especially connected 
with the territorial rights of his Crown on the north-western coast of America 
bordering upon the Pacific, and the commerce and navigation of His Imperial 
Majosty’s subjects in the seas adjacent thereto. 
