Book II Diplomatic and Consular Relations, 6 Diplomatic Communication

Subject(s):

Diplomatic missions — Diplomatic relations — Diplomatic privileges — Right to language — Sovereignty — Governments

This chapter discusses language and communications in the context of diplomacy. It first describes the language practices from the early days of diplomacy—particularly the use of Latin—before describing the modern practices. Nowadays, the right of the representative of every nation to use the official language of that nation is generally accepted. Furthermore, there is no universal rule making obligatory the use of one language rather than another, and practice even varies. The forms and means of official diplomatic communication are discussed next: Notes Verbales, collective notes, despatches, speaking notes, non-papers and démarches, and others. In addition, the chapter also considers megaphone diplomacy, the ‘rejection’ of diplomatic communications, and the correspondences between sovereigns and Heads of State.