Diplomatic and consular service, American; United States -- Colonial question; United States -- Politics and government
These are not all the points covered by treaties in reference to the
consular service, but the remainder contemplate his duties rather than
his privileges and may be mentioned, possibly, in the next lecture. Bear
in mind that these privileges do not exist in any country unless it is
so stipulated in a treaty between the United States and that particular
country.
PROHIBITIONS.
Uncle Sam doesn’t propose to have his public servants abroad
intermeddling in foreign politics. Consuls are desired to “cultivate
friendly social relations with the community in which they reside”, but
to “refrain from expressing harsh or disagreeable opinions upon local,
political or other questions which divide the community within their
jurisdiction. They are forbidden to participate in any manner in the
political concerns of the country. In their (public) dispatches upon
such subjects, they will confine themselves to the communication of
important or interesting public events as they occur, avoiding all
unnecessary reflections upon the character or conduct of individuals or
governments, and they will not give publicity, through the press or
otherwise, to opinions injurious to the public institutions of the
country or the persons concerned in their administration”.
This is good, sound diplomacy; and the same paragraph goes on to say,
“It is at the same time no less their duty to report freely and
seasonably to their own government all important facts which may come to
their knowledge touching the political condition of the country,
especially if their communications can be made to subserve or may affect
the interests of their own country”.
[Illustration: U.S. CONSUL]
PUBLIC SPEECHES.—He is “not allowed to allude in public speeches to any
matters in dispute between the United States and any other government,
nor to any matters pending in the consulate. It is a still better rule
to avoid public speeches when it can be done without exciting feeling”.
THE PRESS.—The prohibitions extend also to correspondence with the
press, not literary or non-political articles, but to such as touch upon
public affairs in any foreign government, or communications to
newspapers relative to epidemic diseases abroad.
GIFTS, TESTIMONIALS.—Consuls are not permitted to ask or accept for
themselves or anybody else “any present, emolument, pecuniary favor,
office or title of any kind from any foreign government”. If any such
offers are made to them “they may apply to Congress through the
Department of State for permission to accept the same”.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OFFICE.—Consuls are forbidden to recommend any one
for any governmental office or trust of profit. By permission of the
Secretary of State they may make recommendations to offices subject to
their own jurisdiction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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