The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-24

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TsqorA-yesder Bros. Tenth aud Pacific
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OH RIGHTS ~ ALASKA
The pseeiainasion OF President lar
sssois declaring Behrsng sea a closed
sea and within the Jurisdiction OF the
United States viii no doubt bring
forth lively protest from those
nations the vessels OF which frequent
those waters. and II may be the signal
for opening negotiations on question:
which has vexed two or three nations
for nearly one hundred years.
The waters adjacent 10 what Is now
the territory Of Alaska were under the
control ami dominion Of Russia even
before the formation by that govern
ment OF the Russian American Com
psny in lbs. but, although some at
tempts we're made by the Russians 10
exclude our vessels from Russian
American waters. there was no very
decided stand taken until September.
1921, when Emperor AlexandeE issued
. ukase 10 the effect that the pursuits
OF commerce, whaling and fishing and
of all other industry on all islands,
ports and CULTS, including the whole
northwest coast Of America. beginning
from Behring's straits 10 the fifty-first
degree Of north latitude. also from
The AIentian islands to the coast OF
Siberia and TO the south cape Of the
island OF Urup. were exclusively
granted to Russian subjects.
BY this nkase Russia claimed iuris-
dicticn on the American continent
nearly to the north end OF vancouver's
island. The United States at once re-
piled that her citizens had the right 10
deal with the aboriginal natives along
the Northwest coast and denied the
Russian claim TO any part Of America
south OF iifty.five degrees Negctia-
tions were opened by the two govern
ments, aud our representative at Sc.
Petersburg proposed that the whole
coast should be open for the naviga-
ton OF all parties for definite num-
Der OF years, and that the limit OF
Russian territory be considered al the
fifty-fiith degree.
In the treaty which was agreed to
April II, 1924. IL was decided that the
southern boundary OF the Russian
possessions in America should be
placed at 81 degrees 40 minutes north
latitude. which is about the present
southern boundary OF Alaska: that
navigation and fishing should not he
disturbed or restrained upon points
not already occupied; bat that the
citizens Of either country should not
resort TO any point at which there was
an establishment of the other. The
Russian-American company made
great outerics against the provisions
OF the treaty before il was signed and
the Russian ambassador in this com
try maintained that his government
did not understand that the conven-
ton would give United States citizens
liberty 10 trade in The Aleutian Islands
aud ,,.,ranya, tsx ,.s.,t.<t =. .ss..gi.k.aa
ton which would prevent cur vessels
frem engaging in commerce north of
the tisty-seven,h degree. This We re-
fused TO do. and the treaty was signed
rs originally drawn up.
The fourth article of this treaty gave
10 the citizens Of the United States for
the period Of ten years the right to fish
and trade in the waters along the
Northwest eeast. This right expired
in 1854 and at that time the Russian
minister begged that oar government
should ISSUE an official notification to
that effect. A strong effort was made
10 have the grant renewed aud our
minister at 81. Petersburg endeavosei
in every way 60 negotiate for con-
tinuanee. We asserted that We still
had by the law of nations the right of
!reguenting the unoccapisd parts OF
The coast for fishing and trading. but
the Russian government would not
listen 10 our arguments and refused
to renew the fourth Article If the con.
vention. A similar refusal was made
10 Great Britain. whose right had
iapsed in 1875. and from iSss, the year
of the renewal OF the charter OF The
Rnssian-Ameriean company. the YES
sells of both Great Rritasn ani III.
United states were excluded from the
ports and hafborS Of the coast OF gnS.
sian America.
This condition OF affairs nigh, have
existed until the present day had not
Mr.. Seward in ISL negotasss. treaty.
by which. for the sum az s.. 90 .oso IN
gold, the whole Of the Russian I,oSxs.,-
sions IN America, free and aneneun.
bered by the privileges Of any cosa-
pany. were coded so the United Stsses.
BY this treaty the country became
oars. together With all the proprietary
and treaty rights enjoyed hs the form.
er owner. Among these rights. il.
which other nations bad acauirsesd
was that ol exclusive control ever the
fisheries Of the country. and when the
United States made the purchase she
expected TO exert over the waters AL.
iaeent To Alaska the same authority
which Russia had previously main.
tanned. lnelasied in ,h-= authority I
vas the control of th< waters 81
behEing SEA which had been rexArsis.a I
as eeing within Russian jurisdiction.
aid which had been Sahjees 10 sael,
fishery laws as lsusSia sAw 6t 10 MAKE
by the logic o. greats, therefore. the
president Is Justified Ia issuing his
proclamation calm attention 20 thsse
sections q the revised statutes wasch i
teshsd The catching OF seas or ether