Russian-American Convention concluded

5 (17) April 1824 in St. Petersburg, the Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Count Karl Nesselrode, and the U.S. envoy Henry Middleton signed the first Russian-American Treaty (Russian-American Convention).

In 1799, by decree of Emperor Paul I, for the development of the Russian lands in the Americas and the adjacent islands was created the Russian-American Company (RAC). In autumn of 1809 Russia and the United States established formal diplomatic relations, and 5 (17) April 1824 was signed the first Russian-American Treaty (the Convention concluded in St. Petersburg between the Emperor of Russia and the Government of the United States of America on the unwavering maintenance of a friendly communication between them"). The Treaty included the introduction and six articles.

According to the first article of the Treaty, nationals of both nations were allowed "in all parts of the Great [Pacific] Ocean to navigate freely, fish, put in to the shore in places that are not yet occupied”. However, the second article stipulated that the citizens of the United States could not without the permission of local chief to put in to the shore in those places where there was a Russian village, and Russian nationals could not put in to the shore near the villages of the United States in the north-west coast without permission.

According to the Convention of 1824, at 54°40' north latitude a line of demarcation has been established to the north of which pledged not to settle the Americans, and to the south - Russians.

Article 4 stated that "during ten years from the date of signing this Convention, ships of both powers ... will be allowed to enter without disturbance in all inland seas, bays, harbors and bays, located on the shore, mentioned in the previous article, in order to conduct fishing and trading with the natural inhabitants of the country”. From this "bargaining ... [were excluded] ... all sorts of alcoholic beverages, firearms and white weapons, gunpowder and military ammunition of all kinds".

However, this prohibition should not have been "an excuse or be construed as if it gives the right to inspect or detain ships, or seize goods, or, finally, to take any enforcement action ... because the high contracting parties mutually agreed to determine penalties and impose monetary penalties for violation of this article".

The last, sixth article provided that the exchange of instruments of ratification should take place in Washington, "in ten months or if possible, earlier".

Lit.: История Русской Америки (1732-1867). М., 1997; То же [Электронный ресурс]. URL: http://militera.lib.ru/explo/ira/index.html; Полное собрание законов Российской империи. СПб., 1830. Т. 39 (1824). № 29861. С. 251.

Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:

Russia – USA: From the History of Relations: [digital collection].