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Diplomatic correspondence

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Diplomatic correspondence is correspondence between one state and another, usually – though not exclusively – of a formal character. It follows several widely observed customs and style in composition, substance, presentation, and delivery and can generally be categorized into letters and notes.

Contents

Letters

Letters are correspondence between heads of state, typically used for the appointment and recall of ambassadors; for the announcement of the death of a sovereign or an accession to the throne; or for expressions of congratulations or condolence.

Letters between two monarchs will typically begin with the salutation "Sir My Brother" (or "Madame My Sister", in the case of a female monarch) and close with the valediction "Your Good Brother" (or sister, in the case of a female monarch), unless one monarch is of inferior rank to the other (if, for instance, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg were to correspond to the Queen of the United Kingdom) in which case the inferior monarch will use the salutation "sire" while the superior monarch may refer to the other as "cousin" instead of "brother". A letter from a monarch to the head-of-state of a republic, vice versa, or of the head-of-state from one republic to another, may begin with the salutation "My Great and Good Friend" and close with the valediction "Your Good Friend"; beneath the signature line will be inscribed "To Our Great and Good Friend [Name and Title of Recipient]".

Letters of credence

A letter of credence (lettres de créance) or credentials is the instrument by which a head of state exercises his or her power to appoint ("accredit") ambassadors and ministers to foreign countries. The letter of credence is signed by the sending head of state and is addressed to the receiving head of state. (In some countries, letters accrediting or recalling ambassadors or ministers are also countersigned by a minister of state).

The particular elements of a letter of credence vary from country to country, but "the essence of any letter of credence is contained in the final phrase asking that credit may be given to all that the ambassador may say in the name of his sovereign or Government." Usually "the appointment and reception of diplomatic representatives are matters of protocol and ceremony" but there are occasionally "legal implications in the context of questions as to the legitimacy of a particular head of State" because addressing letters of credence to, or accepting letters of credence from, a foreign head of state has implications relating to recognition of a particular government. Letters of credence date to the thirteenth century.

An envoy typically receives both a sealed letter of credence and an unsealed copy. Once the envoy reaches his destination:

Letters of recall

A letter of recall is formal correspondence from one head-of-state notifying a second head-of-state that he or she is recalling his state's ambassador.

Full powers

In cases where an envoy is entrusted with unusually extensive tasks that would not be covered by an ordinary permanent legation (such as the negotiation of a special treaty or convention, or representation at a diplomatic congress), an envoy may be given full powers (pleins pouvoirs) "in letters patent signed by the head of the State" designing "either limited or unlimited full powers, according to the requirements of the case."

According to Satow's Diplomatic Practice, the bestowal of full powers traces its history to the Roman plena potestas; its purpose

was to be able to dispense, as far as possible, with the long delays needed in earlier times for referring problems back to higher authority. Their use at the present day is a formal recognition of the necessity of absolute confidence in the authority and standing of the negotiator.

Language

The earliest forms of diplomatic correspondence were, out of necessity, written in Latin, Latin being a common language among states of a linguistically diverse Europe. By the early 1800s French had firmly supplanted Latin as the language of diplomacy; on one occasion, in 1817, the British attempted to correspond with the Austrian Imperial Court in English, prompting Klemens von Metternich to threaten retaliatory correspondence in German. In modern times, French has largely been replaced by English as a diplomatic lingua franca in correspondence between two states that do not share a common tongue.

Rejection

States may sometimes reject diplomatic correspondence addressed to them by returning the original copy to the sending state. This is done as a rebuff of the contents of the correspondence and is typically reserved for cases where the receiving state feels the language used by the sending state is rude, or the subject matter represents an inappropriate intercession into the receiving state's internal affairs.

References

Diplomatic correspondence Wikipedia