Title

Memorandum From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson to Alvey A. Adee, November 16, 1909

Authors

Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Document Type

Memorandum

Files

Date

11-16-1909

Keywords

Alvey A. Adee, protocol, Order of Precedence, diplomatic house, American official house, precedence of officials

Description

The document is a typed memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State with handwritten comments by Alvey A. Adee concerning the precedence of officers of State.

Sender

Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Recipient

Alvey A. Adee

Corresponds to:

Folder 1-6, Document 2

City

Washington, D.C.

Transcription

Department of State.

Office of the Assistant Secretary.

Memorandum.

November 16, 1909

Dear Adee:

I take the view that in a diplomatic house here the Assistant Secretary of State ( as Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs) takes precedence over Ministers; that in an American official house Ministers take precedence over him and that in an American private house, by a broad principle of hospitality, the foreign Minister may be given precedence over him, [although it may be either way.]

I also maintain that American Ambassadors, when on leave in Washington, should make the first call upon the Assistant Secretary. I also maintain that as they leave their representative character behind them in the countries to which they are accredited, when they are here on leave [they] do not take precedence over the Assistant Secretary of State except in the Embassy of the country to which they are accredited (which is territory where their representative character may theoretically revive) or at dinners where they are guests of honor.

Will you please write yes or no opposite these points according to whether you agree of not with my views?

Assistant Secretary.

[1. Yes. Before for Ministers but after Ambassadors. The various dinners I have attended in a diplomatic house I have had precedence over for. ministers so that the rule extends to all the Assistant Secretaries, even of other Departments. I have seen Gen. Oliver and Mr. Newberry placed above the host's colleagues.]
[2. Yes. Rule 1 is reversed, following the doctrine of colleagues of the host ranking after guests.]
[3. By the rule of courtesy a foreign minister generally ranks an Assistant Secretary.]
[4 and 5. Mr. Hay decided that American Ambassadors and Ministers, when in the U.S. on leave, have no personal rank by reason of their foreign service but are simply distinguished citizens - the exceptions to this ruling being those you mention.]

[signature]

Comments

Handwritten comments from Alvey A. Adee and unknown.

Language

English

Rights Statement

Please contact the Myrin Library Special Collections Department for permissions to use this document. https://www.ursinus.edu/library/archives-special-collections/

Recommended Citation

Huntington-Wilson, Francis Mairs, "Memorandum From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson to Alvey A. Adee, November 16, 1909" (1909). Organization of the State Department. 2.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/fmhw_organization/2