tify but that government supported its minister in the position which he had taken and his evidence was not given.

In 1902, the son of the United States Minister to Guatemala shot and killed another American citizen in the city of Guatemala. Secretary Hay, upon the request of the Guatemalan Government, instructed our Secretary of Legation who had witnessed the shooting, to waive his diplomatic immunity and give his testimony before the Guatemalan courts. This case raised some interesting questions. The accused, up to a short time before the occurrence, had been a clerk in our Legation at Guatemala. As an attaché of the Legation or as a member of the Minister's household, he would have been exempt from the local jurisdiction. But our Minister cabled to the Secretary of State that his son was 24 years of age, in business for himself, and not connected with the Legation in any way to entitle him to immunity from the local jurisdiction, and that the Guatemalan courts had taken cognizance of the case. He was tried in the Guatemalan courts and acquitted.

Most of the states of Continental Europe have the power under their judicial systems, to try their subjects for offenses committed in other countries. But in the United States the general theory exists that offenses should be prosecuted and punished in the place where committed, and except in a very limited class of cases covered by special statutes, no provision is made for the trial and punishment in this country of persons charged with crimes committed in foreign countries.

The legation or residence of a diplomatic officer is presumed to be a part of the territory of the State which he represents, and the children born to him in the country where he is serving are held to be subjects of his own country notwithstanding the laws of the country where they are born declare that all persons born there are citizens of that country.

Credentials

When a diplomatic officer starts for his post he is furnished with a letter of credence, which is a letter from the President addressed to the head of the government to which he is going, stating that the President, reposing confidence in his zeal, ability and discretion, has appointed him as ambassador or minister of the United States at such a place; and that he hopes all faith and credit will be given him when he speaks for the United States. This letter is always addressed to "Great and Good Friend" and is signed "Your Good Friend," followed by the President's name, and countersigned by the Secretary of State.

The general rule of European governments is, before the actual appointment of a diplomatic representative to privately ask the government to which it is proposed to send him whether he is acceptable to it. There are often personal or political reasons why an envoy may not be acceptable in a particular country, and a government has a perfect right to refuse to receive him. The United States has not always observed this rule. In the case of Ex-Senator Blair who was appointed minister to China, that government as soon as it learned of his appointment, notified the United States that it would not receive him, its objection being that while in the Senate he had opposed the admission of Chinese to the United States. Senator Blair was at the time on his way to China but was recalled. It is the practice of the United States in sending an ambassador, to inquire in advance whether the person proposed is acceptable to the foreign government.

In 1885, Mr. Keiley of Virginia, who was appointed by President Cleveland as Minister to Austria and subsequently as Minister to Italy, was rejected by both governments, the Austrian Government objecting to him because his wife was a Jewess, and the Italian Government having taken exception to utterances of his fourteen years previous to his appointment in criticism of certain acts of the King of Italy.

During Queen Victoria's reign, it was a rule of the British court that a divorced person would not be received, and the ambassador of a great power was rejected because he had married a lady divorced from her former husband.

Before starting for his post it is expected that a diplomatic officer will visit the Department of State, confer with the Secretary or Assistant Secretaries, and receive instructions. He should examine the previous correspondence between the Department and his predecessor and familiarize himself with the questions pending between the United States and the government to which he is accredited and the condition of the business of the mission. For this purpose he is allowed a period of thirty days with pay, called an "instruction period." If there are claims pending between the two governments, he should discuss them with the Solicitor of the Department.

The standing instructions which regulate for the most part the conduct of diplomatic officers, are contained in a printed book entitled "Instructions to the Diplomatic Officers of the United States." This contains detailed instructions in relation to correspondence with the Department of State and the Treasury Department, the keeping of records and archives, the relations of the envoy with the foreign government and diplomatic representatives of other foreign governments, and other information useful in the work of the mission. Special instructions are given the envoy when the circumstances require.

When the envoy reaches his post he notifies the Minister of Foreign Affairs of his arrival and requests an audience with the head of the government for the purpose of delivering his letter of credence. If his predecessor is still there, the latter calls upon the Minister of Foreign Affairs with him; if not, the Secretary of the Embassy or Legation goes with him and introduces him.

On the occasion of presentation of letters of credence, formal speeches of welcome and good-will are usually made. It is customary for the diplomatic representative to furnish the Minister for Foreign Affairs a copy of his proposed remarks in advance in order that a suitable reply thereto may be prepared. The ceremony attending the reception of an envoy depends upon the local custom. Generally, when the time for his reception is fixed, he is waited upon by a master of ceremonies who explains the formalities to be observed, and one or more state carriages are sent to conduct him and his suite to the palace. If an ambassador, the carriages are drawn by six horses, accompanied by a detachment of cavalry. After the audience with the sovereign, the delivery of the letter of credence, the address of the envoy and that of the sovereign in reply, the envoy and his suite retire.

In the United States, when an ambassador is to be received, the President sends his carriage for the ambassador, to convey him to the White House. Envoys go to the Department of State at the appointed hour, and the Secretary of State accompanies them to the White House, where they are met by the President. The envoy reads his address; the President reads his reply; a few moments are spent in conversation, and the parties retire.

After presenting his letters of credence, if accredited to a sovereign, the envoy should ask for presentation to the Queen or Empress and to the Prince and Prin

cess.

Uniform

In contradistinction to the practice of other govern