Law

Ambassadors formed the first class of the public ministers (q. v.) who were sent abroad by sovereign states with authority to represent their government and to transact business with the government to which they were sent. A distinction was formerly made between Ambassadors Extraordinary, who were sent to conduct special business or to remain for an indeterminate period, and Ambassadors Ordinary, who were sent on permanent missions; but this distinction is no longer observed. Ambassadors are regarded as the personal representatives of the head of the state which sends them, and in consequence they are entitled to special honors, and have spethis privilege is of little value at the i: -nt day, owing to the general adoption of tutional forms of government. Onl\ pires, Kingdoms, Grand Duchies, and Republics are entitled to send and re Ambassadors. Until recently the l States was represented by Ministers Plenipotentiary, never having sent persons of the rank of Ambassador in the diplomatic On March 3, 1893, a law was passed authorizing the President to designate as Ambassadors the representatives of the United States to such countries as he might be advised were so represented or about to be represented in the United States. In consequence of this law the United States is now represented by Ambassadors in Great Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, Japan, Turkey, and Spain. Before an Ambassador is sent to a foreign country, it is the custom to inquire if the designated person will be a persona grata to the government of that country. No reasons need be given by the foreign government for refusing to receive a given individual. After an appointment the Ambassador is provided with a letter of credence (q. v.) which identifies him at the foreign court The duties of an Ambassador are varied; he is the mouthpiece of communications from his state to the foreign country; he must keep his government informed upon all.questions of interest to it; he must see to the protection of citizens of his eountr. dent in the foreign state; and he may negotiate treaties when his government specially empowers him to do so by giving him a document called Full Poicers (q. v.). The person of an Ambassador is inviolable. He is exempt from both the criminal and civil jurisdiction of the country to which he is sent. As early as 1708 an act was passed by the British Parliament confirming the immunity of Ambassadors from arrest and imposing heavy penalties upon any persons who should serve a writ or process upon them. They can not be arrested for debt, nor for violation of the law, except in cases where it may be necessary to prevent them from committing acts of violence. If, however, they should be so regardless of their duty and of the object of their immunity as to injure or openly attack the laws of the foreign government, their functions may be suspended by a refusal to treat with them, or application can be made to their own sovereign for their recall, or they may be dismissed or required to depart within a reasonable time. By what is called the fiction of ex-tcrritoriality, the exemption of an ambassador from the jurisdiction of the country in which he resides has been extended to his house and his suite. His house cannot be entered consequence, the Ambassador's house has sometimes been used as an asylum (q. v.) for criminals. Much diplomatic controversy has taken place upon Ibis point, and at present asylum is not given, except occasionally, in times of revolution, to political refugees. An ambassador's children born abroad retain the citizenship of their father; Geofroy v. Riggs, 133 V. S. 25S, 10 Sup. Ct. 295, 33 L. Ed. 642; Moore, IV, §§ 623-695. AMBIDEXTER (Lat.). Skilful with both hands. Applied anciently to an attorney who took pay from both sides, and subsequently to a juror guilty of the same offence; Cowell.