Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-30
DIPLOMATS READY
FOR MOTOR TESTS
Cooperation Pledged in Ef'
fort to Increase Safety
in District Traffic.

MANY members of the diplomatic
corps have indicated to the Secretary
of state, in letters and conversations
their desire to cooperate with the
local authorities in the enforcement
of local traffic regulations and TO tha'
end have no objection to the plan sug
gested recently by the District Com
missioners that their chauffeurs OF
such of their number as drive then
own cars, submit to examination &c
demonstrate their fitness to do so.
It Is intimated that a general plan
of procedure in that direction has
Just been agreed upon and that the
Secretary of State will submit IT &c
the District Commissioners in few
days for their action. In advance OF
submission, the officials of the State
Department decline to discuss the
matter in any phase beyond the gen,
eral statement that a memorandum
may be made public in few days.
Cannot Waive Immunity.
Though not officially admitted 1t is
understood that both the State De
partment and the members of the
diplomatic corps generally hold that
the latter cannot, If they would, waive
their rights of immunity from Grim
inal or civil prosecution, under the
law of the land.
The plan under consideration is
based mainly on the suggestion made
to the State Department by the Com
missioners following an accident some
months ago, in which Thomas j.
Cadet was killed by being struck by a
car driven by Nine. Abdullah Ente
Fam, wife of the third secretary of
the Persian legation, while under in
struction, and the more recent traffic
controversy between Director Eldridge
of the Traffic Department and Dushan
s. Sekulitch, chief clerk Of the Serb
ian legation over parking space.
Plan of Commissioners.
In reporting the case Of Nine.
Entezam to the State Department, the
Commissioners suggested in the in.
terests of public safety that members
of the diplomatic corps and their EN-
ployes submit to examination of their
ability to drive and if found qualified
be given special permits without cost,
In explanation of their plan, the Com.
misSioners said:
'All residents of the District of
Columbia are required to have per-
mits to operate motor vehicles within
the District, and before such permit is
issued evidence must be produced be-
fore the director of traffic that the
prospective operator is qualified to
operate a car with safety to himself
and to the public.
1T would seem to the Commissions
ers that 1t would be highly advisable
that all members of the diplomatic
corps and their stats who desire to
operate motor vehicles in the District
of Columbia should qualify for the
purpose by passing the necessary ex-
animation on the traffic regulations
and by demonstrating their ability to
drive.
I'm order that this examination may
be conducted without annoyance or
Embarrassment, arrangements could
be made by the director of traffic SO
that all members of the diplomatic
corps and their stats could be given
o private examination by an assistant
director Of traffic.
Issuance Of Permits.
sThe permits to operate can be
issued to accredited representatives
of foreign countries upon certification
from the State Department Of their
diplomatic status"
According to State Department Of
fcials, a diplomatic representative
possesses immunity from the GRIM
inal and civil jurisdiction of the
country of his sojourn and cannot
be sued, arrested or punished by the
law of that country. Neither can he
waive his privilege, for 1t belongs to
his office, not to himself"
It further is provided by law that
''the personal immunity of diplo-
matte agent extends to his household
and especially to his secretaries"
The law provides severe punishment
for any person who executes process
on foreign minister or member of
his household.