General Observations and Definitions

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A diplomatic mission consists of a diplomatic representative duly nominated by one state and accepted by another, together with his staff (if any), and established in the diplomatic capital of the state. As far as the receiving state is concerned there is only one person who may represent another state, and he is head (or acting head) of that mission who, as such, is entirely responsible for its activities; his staff, strictly speaking, have no direct representative function and merely assist their head.

The terminology of diplomacy is often obscure and misleading, and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations usefully defined the staff of a diplomatic mission (with the French expression in brackets) as follows:

(a) The “head of the mission” (chef de mission) is the person charged by the sending state with the duty of acting in that capacity;

(b) the “members of the mission” (membres de la mission) are the headof the mission and the members of' the staff of the mission;

(c) the “members of the staff of the mission” (membres du personnel de la mission) are the members of the diplomatic staff, of the administrative and technical staff and of the service staff of the mission;

(d) the “members of the diplomatic staff” (membres du personnel diplomatique) are the members of the staff of the mission having diplomatic rank;

(e) a “diplomatic agent” (agent diplomantique) is the head of the mission or a member of the diplomatic staff of the mission;

(f) a “member of the administrative and technical staff” (membre du personnel administratif et technique) is a member of the staff of the mission employed in the administrative or technical service of the mission;

(g) a “member of the service staff” (membre du personnel de service) is a member of the staff of the mission in the domestic service of the mission;

(h) a “private servant” (domestique privé) is a person who is in the domestic service of a member of the mission and who is not an employee of the sending state.

The term “diplomatic agent”, which formerly referred only to the head of a mission, now includes the members of the diplomatic staff of the mission; and “the members of the diplomatic staff” are not only members of a diplomatic service, but also attachés, advisers and members of other ministries, provided that they hold diplomatic rank.

The term “diplomatic rank” is used in this context todescribe the range of appointments in a diplomatic mission which by tradition entitle the holders to full diplomatic privilege and immunities; and although the term “diplomatic agent” is the correct word to describe the head of mission and members of the diplomatic staff of a mission, the commonly accepted (though less precise) terminology is “diplomat”.

The functions of a mission are reflected in its structure, andthe following pattern remains valid even if, as may happen in some instances, they are all performed by a single person:

The head of mission

Chancery

Political work

Administration and coordination

Secretarial and archives

Security

Communications and other technical services

Local staff

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