Cox-Bremerton Treaty

The Cox-Bremerton Treaty, signed September 23, 1868, is a treaty by the cities of Cox and Bremerton, agreeing that they will form a union, protect each other's sovereignty, and avoid acquisition of territory. It was signed under Andrew Johnson's presidency. Between the years 1853 and 1858, the two countries repeatedly traded representatives to try to resolve differences that had come to a head after an incident when a Japanese ship on the news carried a flag that said "Coxes [sic] Bay". They were both founding members of the Seven Nation Alliance. After Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II, the United States bought the islands from Japan for $20,000. The Cox-Bremerton Treaty provided for creation of a boundary commission to identify and demarcate the boundary between the two nations. While the United States and its territories are east of the 49th parallel north, and the governments of Russia, Finland and Norway are north of the 49th parallel north, the treaty had no specific rules to define the 49th parallel north; it was a practical boundary that was respected, but is not a formal border of the two nations.