ESSENTIAL BASICS V 0.1
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Diplomacy
In the days of ancient Babylon, Greece, and Rome there was no set system of conducting foreign affairs.
Powerful princes, kings, and emperors seldom met unless they marched against each other in war. Communication and travel were difficult. The customs of unrelated peoples differed so greatly that lasting social or political relations were almost impossible.
Western Europe and the Americas differ from these civilizations in the harmony and interdependence of the peoples. This was brought chiefly by a common religion, Christianity, and by trade begun during the Crusades. Before the modern nations came into being, princes and rulers were engaging in the art of political alliances. They laid the first crude foundations for the structure of international relations that followed.
History of Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the field of international relationships reduced to a system. This system had its beginning among the sovereign states that occupied the Italian peninsula. Interstate relations could not be avoided there. The many ambassadors, envoys, and other representatives gradually assumed an important position.
By the 13th century the republic of Venice had formed the habit of demanding specific duties and reports of her ambassadors. Two centuries later the first recorded permanent embassy in history was established in Genoa by the Duke of Milan.
In 1487 Spain appointed an Ambassador to England. By the time another 100 years had passed, resident ambassadors at foreign courts were considered necessary to the home government.
Europe in the 16th century was full of fear and distrust between rulers. Diplomats were looked upon as "honorable spies". They were never expected to tell the truth.
Only through personal likeableness and trickery could they keep informed of what was going on. Machiavelli, a diplomat of Florence, was a noted example. He set down his theories of politics in his work Principe, and influenced others by his writings.
At this time there were two classes of diplomats: ambassadors, or direct representatives of the crown; and lesser officers. The agents did the real work of diplomacy. The ambassadors were far to busy with the ceremonies of their position to devote much time to business.
Types of Diplomats
The art of diplomacy did not change much until the 19th century. Then the gradual growth of democracy and of a more unified spirit in Europe brought about a slow change in diplomacy. It became the duty of diplomats to work for the advantage of the nation, rather than of the king personally. Maintaining friendship and harmony was their great function. The old careless methods of appointing diplomatic agents were not consistent with the new spirit of democracy. The unsettled question of precedence, or rank, of these dignitaries was a constant source of bitterness and strife.
In 1815, at the Congress of Vienna, the nations agreed to establish classes of diplomatic agents, in order of precedence. The first class was made of ambassadors, papal legates, and nuncios (personal messengers). The second class included special envoys and ministers sent directly to the head of states. The third were resident ministers, and the fourth charg�s d' affaires, who were in charge of small matters. This classification was confirmed at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1818, and the rating is still followed.
Modern diplomacy has lost much of its old power and position, although diplomatic agents are still necessary to carry out the affairs of government. The speed of communication and travel has brought nations closer together. All except the highest diplomatic posts are now filled in many countries by civil service examination, in which the requirements are very high. A trained corps of agents is thus drawn from the people directly. Many people believe that diplomats should make public their conversations and agreements. At the end of World War 1 in 1918 President Wilson said that open agreements should be openly arrived at. He did not believe in secret conversations between diplomats and in secret conversations between diplomats and secret agreements. He thought there would be less chance of war if the people of each country could discuss their disagreements honestly and openly, and thus arrive at a friendly solution.
Rights of Diplomats
So long as the nations are in agreement, these agents are entitled to certain set privileges in the country where they are serving. First of all, their persons are protected in peace. If war breaks out with their own country, they are permitted to return unharmed. Second, their property is exempt from taxes. They are not held subject to civil or criminal law, although if they commit crimes of violence or plot against that country in which they are stationed, they may be expelled from the country. Third, they are permitted the right to worship as they please. This last privilege was of much greater importance when religious intolerance was more widespread than now.