A country may decline to receive any ambassador from a certain nation; and this may be necessary in case of a civil war in which two parties claim to be the legal authorities, because receiving the ambassador of one party would be equivalent to recognizing it as the legitimate authority.  And it may, without offense, decline to receive a particular ambassador, on account of some objection to him personally.  It may also decline to treat with a minister who has so deported himself as to become distasteful.

When an ambassador arrives at the capitol of the country to which he is sent, he seeks an interview with the secretary in charge of foreign affairs and delivers to him a copy of his credentials.  Afterwards on a day appointed for the purpose, the secretary presents him to the executive (sovereign or president), to whom he delivers the original commission.

Ambassadors of all grades are expected to avoid all interference with political movements in the countries where they are stationed.

Consuls are the commercial agents of a country.  They are stationed at the principal ports of the world.  Their chief functions are: 

1.  To furnish their government information that may be of service in the commercial relations of the countries.

2.  To settle disputes between masters and crews of merchant vessels in the port sailing under the protection of the flag of the consul’s country.

3.  To reclaim deserters from vessels, and provide for destitute seamen.

4.  In some non-Christian lands to act as judge in cases in which a countryman or other person from a Christian state is a party. (See also page 321.)

Treaties.—­Treaties are contracts between nations[1], and in international law much resemble ordinary contracts in municipal law.  For instance, they can be made only by certain persons—­the constituted authorities of nations, or by persons specially deputed by them for that purpose.  A treaty cannot obligate to do an unlawful act.  There must be consideration —­a treaty which sacrifices the interests of one party is not binding upon that party.  Treaties obtained by fraud or force are not binding.

[Footnote 1:  This from Woolsey’s International Law is too good to be omitted:  “A contract is one of the highest acts of human free-will; it is the will binding itself in regard to the future, and surrendering its right to change expressed intention, so that it becomes morally and jurally a wrong to act otherwise; it is the act of two parties in which each or one of the two conveys power over himself to the other in consideration of something; done or to be done by the other.  The binding force of contracts is to be deduced from the freedom and foresight of man, which would have almost no sphere in society or power of co-operation, unless trust could be excited.  Trust lies at the basis of society; society is essential for the development of the individual; the individual could not develop his free forethought unless an acknowledged obligation made him sure in regard to the actions of others.  That nations as well as individuals are bound by contract, will not be doubted when we remember that they have the same properties of free will and foresight; that they can have no safe intercourse otherwise.”]