The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-11-23
RIGHTS OF DIPLOMATS.
They Are Not Amenable to the Laws
Of the Land.
Whatever They May DO They Cannot
Be Arrested BY Police Oficers-An
Oriental Prince Proves tho
Depth OF Els Love.
Especial washington Letter. |

CITY which are not amenable to the law
of the land Gentlemen residing in
those houses may commit breaches of
peace which would land others in the
station houses, in cells and behind bars;
but when the favored few enter their
gates no police officer, nor any officer
of the army or navy, can follow to mr.
rest or modest them. When they enter
upon their own premises they stand
not upon the soil of the United States,
but upon ground over which this coun-
try has no jurisdiction. The places
having such immunity belong to for
eign nations They are the houses of
the Representatives of other countries,
and their flags protect them.
Viewed from an American standpoint,
this seems singular, but it is one of
those rights necessarily to be conceded
and respected. My adult readers will
recall Che fact that about one year ago
there were troublous times in the South
American republic of Chill. After a
fierce war, one government. was over
turned, and another took its place.
There was one little plot of ground in
Santiago over which the flag of the
United States foated. 1t was the home
of our minister plenipotentiary. Patrick
Egan. Under that hospitable roof,
protected by our flag, were entertained
and sheltered certain fugitives whose
lives would have been speedily sacri-
feed by an excited people, If they
could have been captured. Some of the
rabble even threatened to attack the
house, but the CHILEAN government was
obliged to protect the American lega-
ton, and did so.
Thus it is, in times of war or peace,
that the homes Of the representatives Of
foreign governments are sacred in the
capital of our republic. IF any mem
Der of one Of those households should
commit grievous infraction of our
laws, we could do nothing with him.
Our government. by our secretary Of
state, would call upon the foreign gov
eminent, and demand the recall and
punishment of the offender; but to in
wade his home here would be equivalent
to invading a foreign country, and that
would inevitably mean the commence
ment of war. The land, the house, the
furniture, everything about foreign
legation is free from the operation Of
our laws. A foreign minister may owe
/ millions of money, but his creditors
here could not seizeF anything for debt
They could only collect their bills from
the foreign government through our
secretary of state.
You know the old common law Of
''eminent domain" gives government
power to condemn property, take it
from the owner whether he is willing
or not, and pay fair valuation for it.
If you owned q home in Washington,
and the government needed it for pub
lie use, congress could condemn your
home; the government would pay you
for it, and you would be obliged to va
cate it. But these homes Of foreign min
listers, owned by foreign governments,
are free from the power of eminent
domain and could not be taken with
out the formal consent of the foreign
government.
Not only is the foreign minister free
from arrest upon his own ground, but
the members of his family, his assist
ants, his servants, his guests, his dog
or horses, are free from molestation un-
der our laws.
In the public prints not very long
ago it was announced, and never de-
MED, that a minister from a South
American republic bought 200 worth
of dude clothes in New York city and
had them sent here by express G. O. D.
The goods were delivered at the lega-
ton, but the money could not be OBJ
tanned. Once in possession of the
clothing, the diplomat simply refused
payment, and, inasmuch as it was inn
possible to bring any legal process, the
express company, which was RESPONSE
ole for the amount, was out of pocket
that much. If it had brought on an
action to recover according to law, ev-
cry person who took part in bringing
and prosecuting the action, including
the solicitor employed and the officer
who attempted to carry it into effect,
would have been deemed a ''violator OF
the laws of nations and disturber of
the public repose," subject to sentence
of Imprisonment for not more than three
years and Hnes at the discretion of the
court. 90 IluCi Aol eAy1LS w COIucI d
diplomatic dead beat. Some few of
the young attaches of the legations
here have made use of their immunity
in this regard to run heavily in debt.
The United States government never
interferes in such matters, considering
them beneath the dignity of its notice.
Its notion is that tradesmen, knowing
the privileges of these people from
abroad, should look out for their own
protection.
Fortunately, the gentlemen who
represent foreign governments are gen
orally educated, scholarly diplomatists
of high rank and standing, who are too
proud of themselves and their positions
to commit breaches of peace or VIOLA
tions of law. Very rarely is an offense
committed by them, unless it be fast
driving. or occasional over-indulgence
in wine.
The foreigner is not only safe from
arrest under his own roof but the law
saws that he is entitled to entire ex-
emption from local jurisdiction, either
civil or criminal. Wherever he goes the
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