This section is from the book "Constitutional Law In The United States", by Emlin McClain. Also available from Amazon: Constitutional Law in the United States.
The last of these enumerations of grounds for jurisdiction of the federal courts includes several possible classes of cases. It is difficult to conceive of a controversy between a state and a foreign government. But if such controversy could arise, determinable by the courts, it would be within the possible jurisdiction of the federal courts. If a foreign government sought to sue the citizens of a state, such suit would be within the scope of federal jurisdiction. Controversies between a citizen of a state and a citizen or subject of a foreign government, that is, suits between citizens and aliens, are of frequent occurrence, and the propriety of placing them within the general scope of federal jurisdiction is self-evident.
 
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