The evening times., 1898-12-31
STATUS OF AMERICAN
COMMERCIAL AGENTS
THEIR FUNCTIONS DESCRIBED
Order of Precedence as Defined by
the Laws-ReIative Rank Nj ith
Army and Naval Officers.

Order of Precedence as Defined by
Army and Naval Officers.
The Bureau of Foreign Commerce has
received several inquiries from foreign
sources as to the status and duties of COM
! mercial agents in the consular service of
| the United States. 1t is thought that these
inquiries have been prompted by the ac-
| tivity of the consular officers in obtain
/ ing commercial information, and also by
| the marked development in the exports
| of manufactured goods from the United
| States
| In view of the fact that these inquiries
| indicate the impression that the CONNER
cial agents have specitl functions in the
collection of information for American
manufacturers and exporters, it is thought
to be desirable to explain that they have
no other status than that of ordinary con-
sular officers, and are not Gore particu-
larly engaged in the work of securing COM
mercial information than are the other
members of the consular corps.
The following synopsis OF the consular
| regulations on the subject will show the
| slight differences, mainly of a technical
character between the commercial agents
and the consuls:
Consuls general and consuls are ap-
pointed by the President, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate Com
mercial agents are appointed directly by
| the Secretary of State, acting for the
! President.
Commercial agents are by the laws of
! the United States full principal, and per-
manent consular officers. No distinction
| is made by statute between them and a
consul. They differ from consuls only In
rank or grade The order OF official pre-
! cedence is ID consuls general, t2D con-
suls, (3) commercial agents, (4) vice-con
| sular officers. (5) deputy consular officers
etc. Consuls and commercial agents rank
! with captains in the navy or brigadier-
| generals in the army.
Commercial agents derive their func-
! tions from the same statutes consuls
! general and consuls. and are entitled to
! enjoy all the powers, immunties. and
J privileges that under public law or other
wise are accorded TO the consular Office
/ The title of the Office as representing a
| distinct grade in the consular service is
peculiar TO the service of the United
| States. II is usual TO ask formal recog-
milton and an exequatur for a commercial
| agent from the government TO which he
| is accredited, as in the case of other prin-
| cipal officers.
Commercial agents in the consular SER
vice OF the United States are TO be dis
| tinguished from certain officers described
! in international law by the same title,
! who are not usually regarded by other
! powers are entitled TO the full rank and
| privileges of a consular officer. The eXi-
! gencies of the public service of the Gov
ernment have from time 10 time made
necessary the appointment of commercial
| agents OF the character and with the re-
stricted functions and privileges of such
| officers as known to international law,
| and this right is at all times reserved.
! In those instances, however, in which
| officers of this title and character have
| been appointed, the appointments have
usually been made to countries the gov
ernments of which had not been recog
nized by the United States or into which
it was desired to send confidential agent
whose recognition need not be asked from
| the local government. Commercial agents
| appointed previous TO August 1, 1856,
were of this limited character An act of
| Congress of that date established their
rank as consular officers and superadded
TO their former powers the functions that
! appertain TO the Office of consul.