AMBASSADOR, a diplomatic officer of the highest rank, sent by a sover eign or nation to another power to treat on affairs of state, representing not only the affairs, but also the person, of his sovereign or executive and entitled to al most equal respect. Anciently ambas sadors were sent only on special mis sions, after the performance of which they returned, their functions corre sponding to those of the modern ambas sador extraordinary; only in modern times did there originate the employment of an ambassador residing permanently at the seat of a foreign government, who is expected to familiarize himself with its politics and to exert his influence for the advantage of his own nation. At the outbreak of war between his own government and that to which he has been sent, the ambassador is dis missed or summoned to return. If the ambassador appointed by one govern ment be considered by the state to which he is assigned personally disagreeable or not calculated to produce friendly rela tions between the two countries, he may be objected to as a persona non grata, and his reception refused; but if he is actually received he is entitled to each and every privilege of his office. These
privileges have never been closely de fined, but include the inviolability of the person of the ambassador from public and private violence; immunity from all jurisdiction, both civil and criminal, of the country in which he is a resident; and similar exemption from local juris diction for his family, household, and retinue. His house is sacred, but he cannot harbor malefactors. He must re gard the laws and customs of the country in which he is a resident, or complaint may be made to the government he rep resents, and his recall demanded, or if his offense be serious, he may be sent beyond its borders by the offended power and a trial in his own country exacted. In the United States, jurisdic tion in all diplomatic cases is by the Constitution delegated to the Supreme Court. The term ambassador was not formerly applied to American diplomatic agents, the highest rank being envoy ex traordinary and minister plenipotentiary, until 1893.