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The credentials with which a newly appointed ambassador (as distinct from a high commissioner) is furnished. They take the form of a letter (although the plural is generally used) in which (to use typical wording) the sending state\'s head of state asks his or her counterpart in the receiving state to ‘give entire credence to all that [the ambassador] shall have occasion to communicate to you in my name’. They are a specific (and often rather colourful) instance of the general rule that any agent (senses 1 and 2) needs to carry documents of authentication. It should be noted, however, that in the case of the despatch of an ambassador by one of the Queen\'s Realms, the letters may – if the sending state so wishes – be signed by its governor-general in the name and on behalf of the head of state (the Queen). And in some other monarchical states the letters may be countersigned by the prime minister or foreign minister.
In the days when ministers (sense 1) were appointed as heads of mission, they too carried letters of credence of the type given to ambassadors, announcing the minister as the representative of the sending state\'s head of state. But a chargé d\'affaires en titre (another virtually extinct breed of head of mission) was accredited not to the head of state but to the receiving state\'s foreign minister. Accordingly, his credentials were furnished by the sending state\'s foreign minister for presentation to his counterpart in the receiving state.
Traditionally, a head of mission could not assume his full functions until he had presented his credentials. This could and still can sometimes result in a fairly lengthy period in limbo for the head of mission designate, while he awaited the convenience of the receiving state\'s head of state. Taking advantage of an ambiguity in the Regulation of Vienna (1815), some states therefore adopted the practice of treating the head of mission as fully en poste as from the date on which (as was customary) he notified the receiving state\'s foreign ministry of his arrival and furnished the ministry with a working copy of his letters of credence. This has now been accepted as legitimate, and appears to be quite widely followed. However, each receiving state must adopt a uniform practice in the matter.
It is not known whether the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the ex-Belgian Congo) had, by 1965, adopted the practice of allowing an ambassador to act as such before presenting his letters of credence. (Its attitude to such matters was said to have been ‘flexible’.) But in that year the country\'s President asked the newly arrived Canadian Ambassador to visit him urgently in advance of the credentials ceremony. He had a small favour to ask: the transmission by diplomatic bag of $400 (US) to his son, who was studying in Ottawa and had run short of cash. The Ambassador readily agreed. A few hours later news arrived at the Embassy that a new, and earlier, date had been fixed for the presentation of the Ambassador\'s letters of credence.
See also letters of commission; letter of introduction; presentation of credentials; representative character. |
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