The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-02-21
RIGHTS OF DIPLOMATS.
Exemptions and Privileges En-
joyed by Foreign Ministers.
NOT AMENABLE TO LOCAL LAWS.
Cannot BE Arrested, and Process Cannot
BE Served Upon Them-A Secretary OF
Legation May Even Jump His Board Bill
With Impunity.

Legation May Even Jump His Board Bill
With Impunity.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10. - Especial l.
Some peculiar facts concerning the rights
of foreign ministers have been brought
out by the now famous case of Senior Don
Enrique Dupuy de LONE and his letter to
Senior Canalejas, which for two weeks has
kept the international world in more or
less Of q hubbub. One of these facts is
that foreign minister cannot be served
with process. 1t does not matter what
crime he may have committed or be charg-
ed with, he cannot be arrested, and to serve
any sort of process upon him is contrary
to the law of our country. This applies
only to ministers of highest grade. Ac-
cording to usage, consuls are not protected
from amenability to local laws. The only
way of getting at an ambassador or q min
lister plenipotentiary. in case he violates
the law of the country to which he is ac
credited, is by dismissing him as such en-
bassador or minister. He may then be
dealt with as private citizen, though
even then at the risk of offending the gov
eminent which he represents.
A peculiar case arose in Philadelphia
early in the preAnt century. The Russian
~
young woman, servant in his family.
He was arrested and thrust into prison.
He was indicted, but when the trial came
on the president of the United States in
structed the federal district attorney to APP
pear in tho corsul's defense The consul
escaped punishment under a technicality,
but not without misunderstanding be-
tween our government and that of Russia
arising out of it. Russia refused to re-
ceive our charge d'affaires till we had
offered proper explanation.
The Right Of Refuge.
Another peculiar phase of the questions
involved in the rights of foreign minis
ter is the duty of our government to pro-
tect the representatives of other govern
ments from personal indignity and insult.
This duty goes so far as protection against
libelous publication. If. for instance, the
newspapers of America publish matter
concerning the Spanish minister which
that official complains Of as libelous, 1t Is
the duty of the government to prosecute
the newspapers which offend. Such a case
arose not long ago, when Caesar Celso Mo-
reno, an Italian American, published arti-
Giles attacking Baron Fava, the Italian
ambassador. Moreno charged Fava with
being the agent for pay of the gang of
spectators that imported poor italian la
borers under contract. Fava complained
to the state department and our govern
ment prosecuted Moreno. He was con-
victed and served term In Jail. A curl
Gus outcome of this case Is now promised.
Fava is reported to be on trial In Italy for
the very offense charged against him by
Moreno, and II convicted Moreno will
have his Justification
The protection which by international
custom is extended to foreign ambassadors
and ministers applies also to members OF
their families, to their secretaries and at
taches and to some extent at least even to
their servants. The recent case In London,
where son of ambassador Hay and son
of one of his secretaries were excused In
court for the offense of riding their bicycles
upon tho sidewalk because they were at
tached to the American embassy, Illus
trates this point. Years ago the coachman
of Mr. Gallatin. our representative In Lon
don, was arrested in his stable, charged
with assault. Immunity was claimed for
him because he was coachman to the
American minister. but 1t was not allowed
by the court as a principle The magis-
trate. however, took the face into consid-
GRAFTON In rendering his verdict, and the
coachman was discharged
Exempt From Taxation.
Il is well known that foreign embassa-
doris and ministers are permitted to bring
into the United States such articles as
they may wish free Of duty. This Is In re-
turn for similar courtesy extended our
representatives In foreign lands. Similarly
the property of embassies and legations Is
not taxable by local authorities The rule
here is to make the matter of taxation
purely reciprocal-thet IL. we do not tax
II the nation interested taxes not US. As
a matter of fact, the British embassy here,
a very valuable piece OF property, pays no
local taxation.
Diplomats enjoy many privileges Not
long ago party Of young men were found