The New York herald., 1870-04-18
Americans N DIpIomatic Representatives
for FOPoign Countries.

citizen as his representative near the Ameri-
can government has been followed up by seve-
raj of the American republics, certainly by
ago named Mr.. Il. G. Squier, formerly Minis
ter OF the United States in Central America,
as its Minister Resident and Charge d'Affaires
in Washington, and recently Bolivia accred-
tied Mr.. j. W. Caldwell. late United States
Minister Resident in that country in similar
capacity. Neither of these gentlemen have,
we believe, been received in the character in
which they were accredited, not on account of
any personal objection but from considerations
OF public policy, it being held that no foreign
| government can invest an American citizen in
the United States with rights, privileges or
prerogatlves not accorded to him by
the laws of his own country. A dis
tinction is drawn, however, between accepting
an American citizen as Minister Resident
and receiving him as special envoy for
specific purpose not involving permanent
abode in the United States. Mr. Burlingame,
it is held, was special envoy, whose official
character terminated with the conclusion Of
|
namely, revision of our treaty with China.
| The United States has constantly received
American citizens as Consuls General and
Consuls of foreign States, but always with the
understanding and on condition that such
| officers shall not claim or exercise any of the
| special or personal privileges or immunities
usually attaching to these Offices, and which
| .cui.-
citizens. On more than one occasion have the
exequaturs of Americans holding foreign con-
suships been revoked because they claimed
exemptions and privileges beyond those of
other American citizens.
The government, however, does not decline
to receive persons American born who have
changed their allegiance or citizenship. Mr..
Elisha III. Allen, actual Minister Plenipoten-
tary of the Hawaiian Islands, is native of
the United States. He was member of Con-
gress from Maine in 184l-43, and member Of
the Legislature of Massachusetts, in 1S49. He
went to Honolulu about that time as United
States Consul, but soon obtained the conf
dence of the Hawaiian government and be-
came Secretary of State. 1t is presumed he
formally transferred his allegiance on that &C
casion. The same is probably true of Mr.
Henry M. Shiefelin, actual Charge dAflaires
of Liberia.
Great Britain, on the other hand, steadfast
to the dogma ''once a subject always a
subject" has always refused to receive
any native of the British islands in
diplomatic capacity, even after formal
transfer of allegiance on his part. A
notable case occurred in 1928, when
the old republic Of Central America
accredited Colonel John Galway, an Irish
officer who had distinguished himself in its
armies and taken an oath of allegiance, as its
representative at St. James. Notwithstand-
ing the gallant Colonel disguised his patro-
nymic under the rather more sonorous Spanish
name of Juan Galiundo, yet the erich Irish
brogue" was obstinate and betrayed him. He
was not received.
Still there are numerous examples of citi-
zens or subjects of certain States having been
received in diplomatic capacities from other
States or sovereigns and obtaining full dplo-
matte privileges. Writers on diplomatic law and
usage, without exception, admit that govern
ment may receive a subject as the representa-
tive of another government; but, as the re-
ception of any Minister at all is matter of
discretion, it follows that it may decline to do
so without assigning any reason, or it may
receive such subject or citizen conditionally-
that is to say, on condition of his renouncing
any privileges not attaching to him as
citizen, such as immunity from
arrest or the jurisdiction of the courts.
Wiquefort thinks it special mark of
good feeling aud high compliment on the
part of foreign State to accredit citizen of
another State to the government thereof, ''as
it is impossible to suppose that the individual
thus distinguished could be more devoted to
any country than to his own." This is a view
probably in which most men on reflection
would share.
It is certainly complimentary to the coun-
try to find that some of its representatives
abroad have so far obtained the respect and
were accredited as to receive their nomination
in turn to corresponding position at home.
This shows that among foreign States th'
intelligence, capacity and activity of Ameri-
cans are understood and valued, and tina
these qualities are sought to be utilized to thu
advantage of all concerned. II seems to III
that our true policy is rather to encourag
such appointments than otherwise, yet we Cal
comprehend the propriety Of receiving tn
!. appointees on condition Of their not claiming
to exercise any rights not belonging to then
, as American citizens. The government ma,
wisely reconsider its decision before it shal
become an established precedent. We Ger
tainly can afford to trust our own citizens
foreign governments can do SO.
THE FENIANs. government has alread