New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-06

Bancroft has written an accurate history Of the
northwest coast, which, at different times, during
a period Of seventy-fve years. was the scene OF
important contests between at least four great
powers. To render the understanding explicit.
Mr. Bancroft has illustrated the northwest coast
by carefully prepared map The map will be
found to include precisely the area which has been
steadily maintained by this Government in the
pending discussion.
The phrase northwest coast Of America has
not infrcquenty been used simply as the synonym
of the northwest coast" but it has also been
used in another sense as including the American
coast of the Russian possessions as far northward
as the straits of Behring Confusion has some
times arisen in the use Of the phrase northwest
coast of America" but the true meaning can al
WAYS bc determined by reference to the context.
The treaty between the United States and Rus
sa was concluded on the 7th of April, 1924. and
that between Great Britain and Russia was con-
cluded February 2S 1925. The full and accurate
text of both treaties will he found in inclosure A.
The treaty between the United States and Russia
is first in the order of time, but shall consider
both treaties together. quote the first articles
of each trsaty, for, TO all intents and purposes,
they are identical in meaning, though differing
somewhat in phrase
The first article in the American treaty is as fol.
lows
Article 1T is agreed that in part OF the great
ocean, commonly called the Pacific Ocean or south sea-
the respective citizens subjects Of the high contract
ing powers shall neither disturbed nor restrained
either in navigation in fshn2 in the power OF TO
sorting 10 the coasts, upon points which may not al
ready have beer occupied for the purpose Of trading
with the natives saving always the RESTRICT pns and con-
dtons determined by the following articles
The first article in the British treaty is as fol-
lows
Article lit is agreed that the respective subjects
OF the high contracting parties shall not be troubled or
mOlested, in any part Of the ocean, commonly caled
the Pacific Ocenn. either in navigating tile same. IN
fishing therein landing at such parts Of the coast
as shall not have been already occupied. In order -
rade with tho natives under the restrictions and con.
ditions specified in the f)ilOwing articles.
Lord Salisbury intends that
The Russian Government lad no idea # any dis
uncon between BchrinG sea and the Pacific Ocean,
wIich latter they considered paci- s0Jhward from
Behring straits. Nor throughout the Whole OF the sub
seqrent correspondence there reference whatever
on either side any distiac.ive name for Iehiinss
sea- or any ntnao that It coulf be considered other
wise than as forming an integral part Of the Pacific
Ocean.
The Government of the United States cordially
agrees with Lord Salishury's statement that
throughout the whole correspondence connected
with the formation of the treaties there was no
reference wha'cvcr by either side TO any DISTINCT
i've name for Behiing Sea- and for The very simple
reason which | have already Indicated, that tho
negotiation had no reference whatever To the
Behring Sea but was entirely confined 10 4 strip
of land on the northwest coast and the waters Of
the Pacific Ocean adjacent thereto. For future
| reference | cali special attention TO the phrase
strip of land
venture TO remind Lord Salisbury OF the fact
thai Rehring Sea was, az the time referred to- the
recognized name in some quarters, ana so appeared
| ON many authentic maps several years before tho
treaties were negotiate But, as | mentioned IN
my note of June -, the same sea had been pre-
| sented as a body Of water separate from the Pl-
ciiic Ocean for a ong period prior TO s25. MANY
names had been applied to il, but the one most
freuuentlv used and plcst widely recognized was
| tho Sca of kamschatkl. English statesmen Of the
| ncriod when the treaties were negotiated had com
nlrte KNOWLEDGE OF all The geographical points ln-
volycd They knew that on the man publish~i
in 1854 to illustrate The voyages of the most emil
| ncnt, English navigator Of the eighteenth cen
! tnry the Sea Of Kanschatka appeared III apso-
/ iute contIadstinction to the Great South SET
| or thc Pacific Ocean And the hap. as shown by
| the words on its margin. was prepared by Lieu-
| tenant Henry Roberts under the Immediate IN
| spection OF Captain Cook.
| Twenty years before Captain Cooks map ap'
| reaiel Tn. London Ma ,azine' contained map en
which the Sea of Kam,chatka conspicuously
| engraved. At sull 'lrer date-cven as far oacx
as l73?-Gvos,lef surveyor of the Russian eApe'
| jticn of Shestakof in 1880 who. even before
Rsh,inc sighted the land of the American cent?
ncntl. published the sea as bearing the name u
! Komscha,ka Muller, who was historian AMI
| ccoorouhpr of the second expedition OF Bchfing III
| I7II DESIGNATED il as the Sea Of kamschatka, III
his map published IN l'dl
inclose a list OF 4 large proportion oil 'he ""s'
| authentic maps published durino the ninety years
| nrior TO 1928 in Greai Brit1in. IN 'he 'hi'cu
| States the Netherlands, France. Spain, germany
and Russian all lO5 maps-on every one ot WHICH
| th, body of water now KnJw.i as lchrinS sea "as
| MAINLY distinguished by name separate from '"e
| Pacific Ocean. On the great maJ"riy l. Is hamei
/ the Sea of Kamschatka, few usc the hd"e VI
pob,iny while several other designations are used.
The whole number, aggregate T. as 'hey o"' ,'0
,n,nion Of large part of the civilized world dis
.i'-rishod rho sca no matter under what name NJ
| ,ltoecther separate from the Pacifc ooean' 'S'e
| inclosure b..
| Is il possible that with this great cloud oil VII
! osses beforc the ey o. Mr.. Adams and MI Georse
| Canning. attestng the existence ef the sea "
! Kamschatka they would simply ihciude ~ !" "''
| nhrase Pacific Ocean and make no aili'oh whae
ever 10 il as a scparat' sea, when IL was Known Nv
| almost every educated man IN Europe anu Amc'eA
| :, have been so designated numbefless times' is
/ :, nossible that Mr. Canning and Mr. Adams, both
| cdncated in the common law coOli be'ieNc that
/ they were acquiring for the United STATES an
Great Britain the enormous rights Inherent IN thc
Sea of Kamschaika without the sliahtess reference
IN that sea or without, any description of its metes
and bounds. when nclther o: item Would have paid
for a village houO lot unless the deed for IT
| shoulJ recitc every fact and feature neces