Office of the Historian
  1. Home
  2. Historical Documents
  3. Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 7, 1903
  4. Document 498

Mr. Hay to Mr. Choate.

Department of State,
Washington, May 25, 1903.
No. 1203.]

Sir: I inclose herewith a letter from John W. Foster, esq., agent of the United States before the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal, addressed to the Hon. Clifford Sifton, agent of Great Britain, making demand, in pursuance of paragraph 4 of Article II of the treaty of January 24, 1903, for copies of certain documents therein particularly described which are specified or referred to in the British case without annexing copies thereto.

You will communicate this demand, through the foreign office, to the British agent.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

John Hay.
[Inclosure.]

Mr. Foster to Mr. Sifton.

Washington, D. C, May 23, 1903.

To the Hon. Clifford Sifton,
Agent of Great Britain.

Sir: I have the honor, pursuant to paragraph 4 of Article II of the treaty of January 24, 1903, between the United States and Great Britain, to request copies of the following documents specified or referred to in the British case without annexing copies thereto, to wit:

1.
The supplementary agreement entered into between the Russian American Company and the Hudsons Bay Company on the 17th of May, 1842, referred to on page 87 of the British case.
2.
The agreement extending the lease of 6th February, 1839, between the said companies to 1st January, 1862, entered into 28th December, 1858, and referred to on page 87 of the British case.
3.
The agreement extending said lease till June, 1865, referred to on page 87 of the British case.
4.
The agreement further extending said lease for one year, terminating on 31st May, 1867.
5.
The certain information and suggestions respecting the northwest coast of America inclosed in Mr. G. Canning’s letter of January 20, 1824, to Sir C. Bagot, No. 41, which inclosures are referred to in the British case, Appendix, Vol. I, page 65.
6.
The tracing of Admiralty Chart, showing the general direction of the coast, inclosed in letter of instructions from J. S. Dennis, surveyor-general, to Joseph Hunter, C. E., dated March 3, 1877, and therein specified in paragraph (D) and referred to in paragraph No. 7 of said letter, appearing in the British case, Appendix, Vol. I, page 224.
7.
The tracing of a sketch made by his honor Chief Justice Begbie, inclosed in letter of instructions above mentioned, and thereins pecified in paragraph (F) and referred to in paragraph No. 4 of said letter appearing in the British case, Appendix, Vol. I, page 224.
8.
The letter from the Russian American Company, dated St. Petersburg, April 18 (May 10), 1867, specified in the declaration from William Ware, esq., secretary of the Hudsons Bay Company, and referred to in paragraphs Nos. 4 and 5 of said declaration appearing in the British case, Appendix, Vol. I, page 306.

Very respectfully,

John W. Foster,
Agent of the United States before the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal.