The Express.
London, England, 1868-11-10 00:00:00

OUR RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED

STATES.

Tuz presence of the representatives of foreign
governments at the LORD MAYOR'S table in Guild-
hall is always regarded by the public as one of the

most auspicious

Of the feast. Yes-

terday, Lord Mayor LAWHILSCE was particularly
fortunate in this respect. The toast of " The
" Foreign Ministers" was acknowledged by an
English-speaking and, we might add, en English-
thinking, diplomatist, in language so frank,
hearty, and felicitous, that it was difficult
for the company present to imagine that Mr.
REVEHDY JOHNSON was a diplomatist in the old
sense, or a foreigner in any sense. The polished

emptiness of the Txxl.Ersaarn and Mr:Wa-
rm-1i vocabulary which we have been accustomed
to bear imitated by their lisping pupils is doubly
foreign to English-speaking lips. Mr. REVERDT
JorriesoN's open and aboveboard manner of con-
ducting negotiations is perfectly compatible with
the utmost firmness and dexterity, though not
with the charlatanerie of the old school of solemn
triflers who used words, not so much to conceal
their thoughts as to conceal their want of
thought and of sincerity. The Minister of the
United States has accepted his mission to this
country as one of peace and goodwill, and comes
to us inspired Stith no meaner ambition than that
of making two great kindred nations friends, and
putting an end to family quarrels. Although
he has been among us but a few weeks, he was
able to announce in the Guildhall last evening
that the objects of his mission were substantially
accomplished. The PREMIER, whose failing is
certainly not a too great dislike of finessing, was
fairly nonplussed by the American Minister's down-
rightnees in throwing all his cards on the table. But
the general public will not regretthat Mr. Insaa.F.o
was unable, on this occasion, to play his tricks
and his honours according to the rigour of the game.
Evidently Mr. BEVERLY JOHNSON is the represen-
tative of anew eraof international relations. "Secret
" diplomacy " must be henceforth an anachronism,
at least so far as the intercourse between free
countries is concerned. The art and mystery has
become an open secret. Better news has seldom
reached the public ear than that which Mr.
REVERDY JOHNSON announced limit evening, and
which by this time has been echoed over half
the globe. " The difficulties which have for
" some time threatened the peace of the
" two countries are now at an end. What
" that end is, and bow that end has been brought
" about I forbear to say, except that it has been
" brought about without touching in the slightest
" degree the rights or the honour of either nation."
The American Minister was certainly not "overstep-
"ping the bonds of diplomatic propriety" in giving
this assurance. Nor, indeed, could the way in
which this happy end has been brought about be
much of a mystery. There were understood to be
three unsettled questions between the Government
of the United States and our own : the question
of the Alabama (embracing a variety of difficul-
ties), the question of the denationalization of British
emigrants, and the question of the Island of San
Juan. Where there is a mutual desire to make
friends and not to quarrel, it is clear that such
questions as these are moot easily settled by
an appeal to disinterested and dispas-
sionate arbitration. According to the Times,
it has been agreed between the two
Governments that all the questions which
have arisen, and remained unsettled, between
the two Governments since 1853 (all questions
before that date having been similarly dis-
posed of), shall be referred to a joint com-
mission of four members, with power to choose a

fifth as president or umpire, each Goverment
undertaking to abide by the final award. The
Alabama difficulty is to bo referred specially to
the Sovereign of one of the groat European States.
The Emperor of the FRENCII having, as all
the world knows, conspired against the Amerioan
Union during the civil war, and the Emperor of
Roans having expressed his sympathy with the
cause of the Northern States, are, it seems, consi-
dered unacceptable for this arbitration. No such
objection can apply to Xing Wiu.w of Prussia,
whose neutrality was without a flaw, and whose
perfect impartialityand goodwill would be equally
trusted on both sides. The dispute as to the
priority of possession of the island of San Juan.
will. aooording to our contemporary, be referred
to the President of the Swiss Confederation—a

precedent which may be followed hereafter with
advantage. But the great fact which has all the
importance of an example is the establishment by
the two great Powers which almost divide the
globe of the principle of arbitration. Here if
anywhere will be found the beginning of the end
of war, if not the dawn of universal peace.

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