CREDENTIALS (lettres de creance), a document, which ambassadors, ministers plenipotentiary, and charges d'affaires hand to the government to which they are accredited, for the purpose, chiefly, of communicating to the latter the envoy's diplo matic rank. It also contains a request that full credence be accorded to his official statements. Until his credentials have been presented and found in proper order, an envoy receives no official recognition. The credentials of an ambassador or minister pleni potentiary are signed by the chief of the State, those of a chargé d'affaires by the foreign minister.