Or 
82 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
529 That expectation was held out in the belief that I should have to instruct 
you to combine your proceedings with those of the American Minister, and the 
framing such instructions was, of necessity, delayed until Mr. Rush should bein pos- 
session of the intentions of his Government upon the subject. 
* * * * # co * 
It remains, therefore, only for me to direct your Excellency to resume your nego- 
tiation with the Court of St. Petersburgh at the point at which it was suspended in 
consequence of the expected accession of the United States, and to endeavour to 
bring it as speedily as possible to an amicable and honourable conclusion. 
The questions at issue between Great Britain and Russia are short and simple. 
The Russian Ukase contains two objectionable pretensions: first, an extravagant 
assumption of maritime supremacy; secondly, an unwarranted claim of territorial 
dominion. ) 
As to the first, the disavowal of Russia is, in substance, all that we could desire. 
Nothing remains for negotiation on that head but to clothe that disavowal in precise 
and satisfactory terms. Wewould much rather that those terms should be suggested 
by Russia herself than have the air of pretending to dictate them. You will, there- 
fore, request Count Nesselrode to furnish you with his notion of such a declaration 
on this point as may be satisfactory to your Government. That declaration may be 
made the preamble of the Convention of Limits. 
* * * * * a * 
{Inclosure 14 in No. 382.—Extract.] 
Mr. G. Canning to Sir C, Bagot. 
FOREIGN OFFICE, July 24, 1824. 
The ‘‘Projet” of a Convention, which is inclosed in my No. 26, having been com- 
municated by me to Count Lieven, with a request that his Excellency would note 
any points in it upon which he conceived any difficulty likely to arise, or any 
explanation to be necessary, I have received from his Excellency the Memorandum 
a copy of which is herewith inclosed. 
Your Excellency will observe that there are but two points which have struck 
Count Lieven as susceptible of any question: the first, the assumption of the base 
of the mountains, instead of the summit, as the line of boundary; the second, the 
extension of the right of navigation of the Pacific to the sea beyond Behring’s 
Straits. 
* * * * * * * 
As to the second point, it is, perhaps, as Lieven remarks, new. But it is to be 
remarked, in return, that the circumstances under which this additional security is 
required will be new also. 
By the territorial demarcation agreed to in this ‘‘Projet,” Russia will become 
possessed, in acknowledged sovereignty, of both sides of Behring’s Straits. 
The Power which could think of making the Pacific a mare clausum may not 
unnaturally be supposed capable of a disposition te apply the same character to a 
strait comprehended between two shores of which it becomes the untlisputed owner. 
But the shutting up of Behring’s Straits, or the power to shut them up hereafter, 
would be a thing not to be tolerated by England. 
Nor could we submit to be excluded, either positively or constructively, from a 
sea in which the skill and science of our seamen has been and is still employed in 
enterprises interesting, not to this country alone. but the whole civilized world. 
The protection given by the Convention to the American coasts of each Power 
may (if if is thought necessary) be extended in terms to the coasts of the Russian 
Asiatie territory; but in some way or other, if not in the form now presented, the 
free navigation of Behring’s Straits, and of the seas beyond them, must be secured 
to us. 
[Inclosure 15 in No. 382.—Extract.] 
Mr. G. Canning to Mr. S. Canning. 
FOREIGN OFFICE, December 8, 1824. 
His Majesty having been graciously pleased to name you his Plenipotentiary for 
concluding and signing with the Russian Government a Convention, for terminating 
the discussions which have arisen out of the promulgation of the Russian 
530  Ukase of 1821, and for settling the respective territorial claims of Great 
Britian and Russia on the north-west coast of America, I have received His 
