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The name by which the (British) Diplomatic Privileges Act of 1708 is often known. It was passed in response to the embarrassment of Queen Anne at the inability of her courts to punish under the common law those responsible for the arrest and detention of M. de Matveev, the Russian ambassador in London, to enforce payment of debts. She immediately procured his release and expressed her regret, but he left the country in high dudgeon and without presenting the letters of recall which he had been carrying when bundled out of his coach. Further measures were called for: amidst much pomp, the British envoy to Russia presented the Queen\'s apologies to the Tsar; and as an indication of Britain\'s determination to prevent such a thing happening again, the Act was passed. Besides declaring the proceedings against the ambassador null and void, it stated that all such civil proceedings which might in future be instituted against ambassadors, their families, and their domestic servants would also be null and void – and that those who instituted them would be deemed ‘violators of the law of nations’ and would suffer such ‘pains, penalties, and corporal punishment’ as might be imposed. Certainly in its giving domestic servants complete protection against civil proceedings, the Act went beyond the then customary international law on diplomacy, but this was another aspect of the Queen\'s endeavour to mollify the Tsar. The Act remained in force for the next two-and-a-half centuries. See also service staff; Sheriff‧s List. |
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