Mr. Reverdy Johnson used the occasion of the Guildhall feast
to announce the virtual solution of the quostions at issue between England and the United States. It has since been explained that a joint Commission is to be appointed, two by us, and two by the United States, with power to choose an umpire. The question of international law arising on the Alabama claims is to be submitted to a European king—the King of Prussia, probably, or, as some think, the King of Italy,—and that decided, all the detailed claims are to be decided by the Commission. The dis- putes as to the naturalization of aliens are to be decided by con- current legislation on both sides of the water ; and the dispute as to the island of San Juan is to be submitted to the President of the Swiss Confederation as arbitrator. This is very fairly esteemed a great triumph for Lord Stanley, whose perspicuous and business-like diplomacy evidently suits the United States. The Standard asserts that the Convention (which was signed on Wednes- day), not being a treaty, will not require the assent of the Senate of the United States. If not, clearly the Convention will be merely provisional, and not binding on the American people. The Constitu- tion confers no power on the President to bind the nation to any contract with a foreign State without the assent of the Senate.
