AMBASSADORS' PRIVILEGES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 183, 16 June 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

AMBASSADORS' PRIVILEGES.

I THEY CANNOT BE FORCED TO PAY THEIR BILLS. The tragic death of the First Sccre tary of the Italian Ambassador at a London hotel recently had r. curious sequel. The Ambassador pul forward the unusual plea of " diplon.j.tic immunity," and the result was that 110 inquest was held, i'lic last occasion on which this pica was put forward Was when, many years ago, attempts to ■ hold inquests 011 deceased members ot the Chinese Embassy were defeated hy recourse to the Act. Ambassadors, however, have many peculiar privileges of which the general public know very little. In the first place, an embassy or legation is, to all intents and purposes, a piece of tho country which it represents, and consequently an ambassador and his staff an not affected by tho ordinary laws ot the country in which the legation stands. This was emphasized some years ago when a certain gcr.tl.oman whose name was well known at the particular period was kidnapped into the Chinese Legation. All inspectoi from Scotland Yard immediately pro- j ceeded to the location and re'ecsed the prisoner. This was a most serious breach of international law, and created quite a sensation in diplomatic circles at the time. All ambassador cacinot be si.ed. Tn fact, he is immune from legal proceedings by a statute which w.v passed to appease the wrath of Peter the Grea* of Russia, whose ambassador was actual'y arrested in London lor ;. debt of I'oo. I'i 10(1" Tiethmann Holl.v.eg, th.e Ger_ .•>nn Ambassador 'll London, claimed to be exempt from rates in respect ot his r<'*i(l.aioe at W;»!toii-on-Thamles, and although the Walton authorities took up the matter with the 'Jr.ea.sury, the latter upheld the ambassador's claim. Again, in Washington, in 11)04, a member i.l" the British Embassy successfully claimed to be outside the law when charged with exceeding the motor speed-limit. An ambassador cannot be forced to pay his bills or forced to give evidence in the law courts. He is free from paying customs duties, and if his tootman is summoned for Ueing d: unkind incapable in the streets (this actually happened in London) iie caoi save him from being lined. The most curious of an ambassador s privileges is that when dismissed ) 10111 an audience with the Soveri ign to which he is accredited, he may turn In? back to the Court. He also has the right to demand admission to the Sovereign by day or by night. An ambassador's wife is regarded as almost, rs important a person as the untbass'-Mior. Not only is she address, d as ' A our ' Excellency," but anv ill >u 11 offered to her is as much an affront, and even a cause for war. as would be one e|;ei»l i her husband or his country, i The ambassadress lias th • right to sit in the presence of the Sovereign or the country to which her better ball accredited, and. like her husband. ■ ; 1,1 - ; not be arrested or sued for d<bt.