Nothing whatever has occurred this week to envenom or to
settle the dispute between Italy and the United States. The -text of a treaty has been published in which each Power agrees to protect the subjects of the other, even in war-time ; but some arrangement of the kind was well known to be in existence, and the Treaty is not stronger, as far as peace-time is concerned, -than general international practice. Attention is also drawn to the fact that the Supreme Court of the United States has jurisdiction whenever a treaty has been violated ; but this seems to be interpreted as referring only to eases in which a State, as a State, has violated a treaty. Now, Louisiana as a State has done nothing, good or bad. It must be noted, however, that the statesmen of the Union are seriously con- sidering whether international law and national law ought not to be brought into closer harmony, and are inclined to think that Congress has power to make a general law for the better execution of treaty provisions ; but the depth of the State Rights feeling has prevented it from using the power in legis- lation. It is, however, much to find it allowed that, if the people desired to make the obligations of their treaties more binding, no new clause to the Constitution would be required. They have only to order Congress to pass the required Acts.
Previous page
