With France, our ancient and powerful ally, our relations continue to be of the most friendly character.  A decision has recently been made by a French judicial tribunal, with the approbation of the Imperial Government, which can not fail to foster the sentiments of mutual regard that have so long existed between the two countries.  Under the French law no person can serve in the armies of France unless he be a French citizen.  The law of France recognizing the natural right of expatriation, it follows as a necessary consequence that a Frenchman by the fact of having become a citizen of the United States has changed his allegiance and has lost his native character.  He can not therefore be compelled to serve in the French armies in case he should return to his native country.  These principles were announced in 1852 by the French minister of war and in two late cases have been confirmed by the French judiciary.  In these, two natives of France have been discharged from the French army because they had become American citizens.  To employ the language of our present minister to France, who has rendered good service on this occasion, “I do not think our French naturalized fellow-citizens will hereafter experience much annoyance on this subject,”

I venture to predict that the time is not far distant when the other continental powers will adopt the same wise and just policy which has done so much honor to the enlightened Government of the Emperor.  In any event, our Government is bound to protect the rights of our naturalized citizens everywhere to the same extent as though they had drawn their first breath in this country.  We can recognize no distinction between our native and naturalized citizens.

Between the great Empire of Russia and the United States the mutual friendship and regard which has so long existed still continues to prevail, and if possible to increase.  Indeed, our relations with that Empire are all that we could desire.  Our relations with Spain are now of a more complicated, though less dangerous, character than they have been for many years.  Our citizens have long held and continue to hold numerous claims against the Spanish Government.  These had been ably urged for a series of years by our successive diplomatic representatives at Madrid, but without obtaining redress.  The Spanish Government finally agreed to institute a joint commission for the adjustment of these claims, and on the 5th day of March, 1860, concluded a convention for this purpose with our present minister at Madrid.

Under this convention what have been denominated the “Cuban claims,” amounting to $128,635.54, in which more than 100 of our fellow-citizens are interested, were recognized, and the Spanish Government agreed to pay $100,000 of this amount “within three months following the exchange of ratifications.”  The payment of the remaining $28,635.54 was to await the decision of the commissioners for or against the Amistad claim; but in any event the balance