Diplomatic Etiquette And Rank

Until two years ago, when Great Britain raised her representative to the rank of ambassador, and France, Italy and Germany quickly followed, the dean of the corps was always the minister who had seen the longest term of service here. and the dean now is the English ambassador, Sir Julian Pauncefote. –Public domain image of Sir Julian Pauncefote

The Question of Rank as Settled in the Early Days of the Republic

Thirty nations are represented at Washington by four ambassadors and twenty-six ministers, each of whom has anywhere from one to sixteen secretaries and attaches to carry on the necessary business. So far as work is concerned, the duties of the foreign representative are not onerous, and are largely social, says the New York Tribune. He sends dispatches to his own government and occasionally addresses communications to the secretary of state. 

Whether these commuications be on matters of international interest or are simply a request to be allowed to land a few cases of wine, household effects, or a trunk full of finery for his wife, they are known as "notes." He is not permitted to transact any business with any officer of the government except through the secretary of state or other high officers of that department, and it would be a great breach of etiquette for him to address the president personally upon any official matter. The code of diplomatic etiquette is strictly followed.

The foreign representative makes the first call upon the members of the cabinet, but is called upon by the senators. The only members of congress officially recognized are the members of the house committee on foreign affairs, in whose good graces he naturally likes to keep. A private citizen calling without an introduction at any of the legations promptly receives a card in return, and the latest addition to the corps makes the first call upon the resident members. None of the wives of the diplomats holds public receptions, except Mme. Romero, who began the custom some dozen years ago, when Washington was not so large as it is to-day, and has never discontinued it, but even her house is open but four times a season to the general public.

The foreign representative makes the first call upon the members of the cabinet, but is called upon by the senators. The only members of congress officially recognized are the members of the house committee on foreign affairs, in whose good graces he naturally likes to keep. A private citizen calling without an introduction at any of the legations promptly receives a card in return, and the latest addition to the corps makes the first call upon the resident members. None of the wives of the diplomats holds public receptions, except Mme. Romero, who began the custom some dozen years ago, when Washington was not so large as it is to-day, and has never discontinued it, but even her house is open but four times a season to the general public.

Until two years ago, when Great Britain raised her representative to the rank of ambassador, and France, Italy and Germany quickly followed, the dean of the corps was always the minister who had seen the longest term of service here. and the dean now is the English ambassador, Sir Julian Pauncefote. As dean he takes the lead at all official functions; foreign ministers call upon him first, and in matters in which the whole corps is interested he is consulted first. When the ambassador first appeared in Washington society there was a good deal of surmising about the matter of precedence at dinners, and for some time it was a much-discussed question, but it has settled itself without much difficulty, and nothing is ever heard about it now. 

In the early days of the republic the question of etiquette became of sufficient importance for the secretary of state, Mr. Adams, to address a letter upon the subject to the president, but it was never settled. Years of precedent have, however, given a certain fixity to the etiquette. here, which is much more rigid than is generally supposed by those who have not lived in Washington long enough to know. Auburn Journal, March 1895

🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia