CONSUL, MERCANTILE. An agent appointed by one nation to reside within the territory of another for the special purpose of promoting commercial intercourse between them. The earli est prototype of this official is the ancient Greek procemens, whose functions were to represent his country, and to protect its citizens while trading at the place of his residence. Modern Greek ap plies this term to the consul of to-clay. That 'consul' has superseded 'proxenus' as the title of the international agent of commerce is due to the supremacy of Italian commerce in the Middle Ages. During that period Italian traders in a foreign country were accustomed to have their disputes settled by magistrates of their own upon whom they conferred the proud title of 'Consul.' In 1485 Richard Ill. appointed the first consul for English merchants (Lorenzo Strozzi, at Pisa), being moved thereto, it is said, "by observ ing from the practice of other nations the advan tage of having a magistrate for settling disputes among merchants trading in another country." This judicial function of the early consul is maintained at present only hi Oriental and Afri can countries. In other lands his primary duties are those of an international commercial agent. The exact nature of his activities and the man ner in which he is to perform them are deter milted mainly by the regulations of the Govern ment appointing him.
The consular service of the United States em braces one consular agent and consul-general (located at Cairo, and enjoying a quasi-diplo matic posit ion ) , consuls-general, vice-consuls general, deputy consuls-general, consuls, vice consuls, deputy consuls, consular agents, com mercial agents, consular clerks, and office clerks. numbering, in 1902. over 1000 persons. Their salaries and fees amount to about two million dollars annually. Most of the fees (which aggre gate nearly a million) are covered into the United' States Treasury, but many consuls are paid for their services wholly or in part by fees. It is
said that the American eonsuls-general at. London and at Paris receive about $20,000 each, although the salary is lint $5000. The number of consul ates-general (July 17, 1902) is 44, of consulates 256, and of commercial agencies 25. As a rule. the incumbents of these offices are not allowed to transact business in or with the countries to which they are accredited, but a few of the con suls and commercial agents are exempted from this rule, because of their limited official income. Commercial agents are peculiar to the service of the United States and are not recognized by other countries as entitled to the rank or privi leges of consuls. They are appointed by the President without confirmation by the Senate. and enter upon their duties without an exequatur from the Government in whose territory they reside. All other consuls are appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. They qualify by taking a prescribed oath of office, and by executing a bond to the United States for the faithful discharge of their duties and for accounting for, paying over. and delivering up all fees, money, goods, effects. books, reeords. papers, and other property com ing to their hands. Upon filing the oath of office and the bond a commission issues, and a r•• quest is made by the State Department to the Government within whose jurisdiction the office is situated for an exequatur, upon the receipt of which the consular officer is entitled to perform his functions and enjoy the privileges of his sta tion. The exact extent of these privileges de pends upon the conventions or treaties existing between the United States and the countries to which they are accredited. In the absence of any convention, a consul, after receiving his exequa tur, while not entitled to the exemptions of a diplomatie agent ( see DIPLOMATIC AGENTS;