New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-28

confined TO certain islands north Of the 10Th degree OF
latitude The islands referred to easily recog
nzed today as when Mr.. Adams described their sltna
ton sixty seven years ago. Tie best known among
them both under Russian and American IuIlsdlo'oH
arc stka and Ksdiak but their whole number l. great.
II Mr.. Adams literally intended TO cOnBne Russian
rights TO those Islands, all the discoveries N N'O'S
Behring and other great navgators are brushed away
by sweep Oi his pen, and large chapter OF history
is but a fable.
But Mr. Adams goes stiil further He declares llaI
Russian rights have no existence on the continent Oh
America II we take the words Of Mr.. Adams with
their literal meaning. there was no such 'h'nG a.
Russian possessions in America, although IorH -lor
years after Mr.. Adams wrote these words the thi'cu
States paid Russia 81 200 70? these "p,SseSsionN
and all the righte land aud sea connected herewith
RUSSIAN AUTHORITY NORTH OF THE 9TH De
GREE NEVER DENIED.
This construction OF Mr. Adams's language cannot
nc the true one 1t would De absurd on its face The
title to that far northern territory was secure 10
Russia as carly as 174l, secure 10 her against the
slams Of all other nations secure 10 her thirty seven
years before Captn Cook had sailed into Inc Nor'l
Pacific secure TO her than half century before
the United States had m9de good her title TO oregon
Russia was I'm point Of time the first power III 'mS
region by right Of discovery. without imm'@er'"c
presumption she might have challenged the rights Oh
Others 10 assumed territorial possessions but no ha'Ioh
had shadow Of rieht 10 Challenge hcr uue "
the vast region Of land and water which, bciore MI
Adams yas secretary Of state, had LcComc Known Is
the Russian possessions
Mr. Adams's meaning was not, therefore. and IN
deed could not be. what Lord salisbury assumed
AS against such Interpretation ! shall cndcsYor 10
call his lordships attention 20 what this Government
holds TO he the indlsputable meaning of Mr. AlahS'
entire paragraph. To that end brief review OF GER
tain public transactions and brei rtcoIu Vi CERTAIN"
facts will be necessary.
~, cloc ~ .hp ne Emperor
n ukasc asserted the exclusive authority OF Russia
over the territory from the Behrng strait down 10 'e
fifty fifth degree OF north latitude on the American
coast. following westward by the Aeutan, hurlo'
and other islands, practically incoSng the behrh9
sea To the Russian American Company. when was
organized under this ukaSe the Emperor gave the gHt
"to make new discoveries in that almost unknown
region and a to occupy the new land discovered a>
Russian possessions The Emperor was a'''s-
sinated before any discoveries were announced
but his Successor the Emperor Alexander l. INFERRED
the ambition and the purpose o his father. alId III
new ukase of September 4. 1s21 asserted the eX-
elusive authority OF Russia from Dchriug strait south
ward 10 the ffty-frst Of north latitude on The
American coast proclamng HIS authority. AZ the saine
time on the ASiatc coast far south as the foryh
degree and forbiddlng any vessel 20 approach within
100 miles Of land either continent. quote the two
sections of the uLasc that contain TIE order and the
punishment:
l.
Of whaling and fishing. any other industry On The
islands In the harbors and nct and in general oil along
the northwestern coast OF America from Borng Strait to
nfy-nrst parallel OF northern latitude and likewise on
the Acutan and along the east coast 81 Siberia
and the Islands that L. from BchrinS strait 70
the Iromonotory OF the island Of rrup VIZ d far
south latitude fortyGye degrees aud fifty minutes north
arc exclusively subjects Of ne Russian Empire
Sec 2. Accordingly, no foreign vessel shall be allowed
put Of the coasts and Islands under
Russian dominion specified in the preceding section or
even to approach within distance q less than
100 Italian miles Any vessel cont1NonG thu provision
shall subject connscation with her whole cargo
Mr.. ADAMS PROTESTS AGAINST ANY EXTENSION
OF RUSSIA'S POWER.
Against this larger claim of authority wiz, extend
Ing farther south the American coast u the 5lt
degree OF north latitude) Mr.. Adams vigorously pro
tested. In dispatch of March 30. l722 to Mr.
Poletca the Russian Minister at Washington Mr.
Adams said
This ukase now the first time extends the claim OF
Russia northwest of America to the DIST dc
gree OF north latitude.
And he pointed out 10 the Russian Minister that the
only foundation for the p?c,cn,iOn Of Russia vas
The existence Of small settlement, situated. not on
the American continent, but on small Island III
latitude 81 Noyo Archanrclsh. now known "a Stka-
Mr. Adams protested, not against The ukase Of raul
but against the ukase OF Alexander not wholly against
the ukase of Alexander, but only against his extended
claim Of sovereignty sOhwaTd the continent to the
5lst degree north latitude In short, Mr.. Adams pro
tested against the old possessions. but against The
new pretensons of Russia on the nOrt!Iwet coast OF
America prct"nsons t. territory claimed by tho United
States and frcqueucd by her mariners since the peace
of 1854 specification OF time which Is dropped FROM
Lord salisbugy'S quotation OF Mr. Adams. but which
Mr.. Adams pointcdly used to tx the date when the
power Of the United States was vlsbly exercised on
the coast Of the Pacific ocean.
The and phrases at that time in use b
pl,v-i -cN With No of
this dispute are confusing and at certain points
apparently contradictory and irrcconclaOc. MI.
Adamss denial 10 Russia Of the ownership OF territory
on "te Continent Of America" Is fair illustration OF
this singular contradiction of names and places IN
the sauie way the phrase "NOrthwest coast" will be
found beyond all possible doubt. 10 have been used
in two senses ono including the northwest coast Of
the Russian possessions and 10 describe the coast
whose northern limit is the G0th parallel Of north
latitude.
II is very plain that Mr.. Adams's phrase the
Continent Of America In his reference TO Russia's
possessions was used in "a territorial sense and not
in a geographical lie was drawing the dis
tincton between the territory OF America and the
territory Of the Russian pOssessionN' Mr.. Adams
did not intend to assert that these territorial rights
Of Russia had existence on the continent OF North
America lie meant that they did not exist tho
ukase Of the Emperor Alexander had attempted to
establish them-southward of the Aleutian Peninsula
and on that distinctive part Of the continent claimed
as the territory Of the United state. America and
the "United states thon, they are now, com
monty used synonymous.
GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES CoNFUSEDLY USED
British statesmen at the time used the phrase pre-
cisely as Mr.. Adams did The possessions Of The
Grown weae Gencrioilly termed British America
Great Britain and the United States harnOnizcd al
this point and this territorial Issue against Russia
Whatever disputes might be left by these negotiations
there can be no doubt that at that time they had
common and very strong interest against the terri
torisl ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF Russia The British use o
the phrase clearly in the treaty between Grea
Britain and Russia, negotiated in 1928, and refeIre
to at length in a subsequent portion Of this dispatch
tk.raI( .r,rirf aAnl