Thomas Jefferson To George Read Jr About Foreign Powers And Sea Boundaries 10 November 1793

Letterpress copy, but signed by Jefferson. Discusses the distance a nation's power and protection extends from the sea coast. Notes that belligerent European powers have frequently appealed to President George Washington for protection in waters along the United States coast. Washington thinks it prudent not to assume the distance protection extends without first having the opportunity of entering into friendly explanations and arrangements with the interested nations. In the meantime, Washington has determined that protection should extend as far as one sea league (the foreign powers in question decide the length of a league amongst themselves by treaty). States that no national law has been made on the thorny issue of captures occurring in the jurisdiction of the United States. Sends the documents to attorneys of states along the sea coast (please see GLC02437.05965, GLC2437.05966, GLC02437.05967 for copies of this letter sent to different attorneys).