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{{For|the 1952 film|Diplomatic Courier}}
{{Short description|Diplomatic official}}
{{For|the magazine|The Diplomatic Courier}}
{{About||the 1952 film|Diplomatic Courier|the magazine|The Diplomatic Courier}}

A '''diplomatic courier''' is an official who transports [[diplomatic bag]]s as sanctioned under the 1961 [[Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations]]. Couriers are granted [[diplomatic immunity]] and are thereby protected by the receiving state from arrest and detention when performing their work. Couriers may be assigned on an [[ad hoc]] basis, but in those cases they are released from immunity once their bags have been delivered. All couriers are provided documentation that reports their status as couriers and the number of packages currently being transported in the diplomatic bag. Diplomatic bags may be transported under the authority of commercial airline captains, but they are not diplomatic couriers.
[[File:A Diplomatic courier ensures that palletized U.S. Diplomatic pouch material is properly unloaded from an aircraft at Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, VA, June 8, 2009. (43045277335).jpg|thumb|Diplomatic couriers inspecting the unloading of [[diplomatic bags]]]]
A '''diplomatic courier''' is an official who secures and transports [[diplomatic bag]]s. Countries have utilized diplomatic couriers to handle important documents, artifacts and supplies between different countries since the 12th century. Following the 1961 [[Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations]], couriers are placed under [[diplomatic immunity]] while performing their work. Couriers are usually hired by a specific country and are tasked with protecting and managing bags from being opened. Some couriers are assigned on an [[ad hoc]] basis, but in those cases they are released from immunity once their bags have been delivered. The original definition of a diplomatic courier focuses on handling bags, but couriers today also deal with logistical affairs and digital communications.<ref name=":62">{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2012 |title=Ensuring delivery and retrieval of sensitive U.S. diplomatic materials |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ensuring-delivery-and-retrieval-of-sensitive-us-diplomatic-materials/2012/05/20/gIQAQIVZdU_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>

== History ==
The first appearance of a diplomatic courier was in the 12th century, when English kings created the [[King's Messenger]]s to relay secret information or deliveries.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=Our history |url=https://www.fcdoservices.gov.uk/about/our-history/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=FCDO Services |language=en-GB}}</ref> King's Messengers were used during the reign of [[Richard III of England|Richard III]]; he used the King's Messengers four couriers to deliver private papers in 1485.<ref name=":23">{{Cite web |title=The Silver Greyhound – The Messenger Service – History of government |url=https://history.blog.gov.uk/2014/03/25/the-silver-greyhound-the-messenger-service/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=history.blog.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> After continued frustrations with postal systems in the 1500s, some Italian states hired independent freelance messengers to deliver documents between countries, and hiring them as full time couriers.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-94-010-2847-9 |title=Post and Courier Service in the Diplomacy of Early Modern Europe |year=1972 |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-94-010-2847-9|last1=Allen |first1=E. John B. |isbn=978-90-247-1496-4 }}</ref> Countries like Spain and France adopted the practice soon after. Couriers in the 1500s were generally assigned to a specific route, such as delivering messages from Paris to London to communicate across the English Channel.<ref name=":3" />

Article 27 of the [[Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations]] formalized the diplomatic courier, declaring "A [[diplomatic bag]] must never be opened, even on suspicion of abuse, and a diplomatic courier must never be arrested or detained."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bruns |first=Kai |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RWc0BwAAQBAJ |title=A Cornerstone of Modern Diplomacy: Britain and the Negotiation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations |date=2014 |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=978-1-62892-154-0 |language=en}}</ref> Despite diplomatic immunity, the position has been abused and couriers have been stopped on occasion for issues regarding their bags. Dutch, Swiss and American couriers were detained in China following disputes over their corresponding bags in 1981.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Wren |first1=Christopher S. |date=1981-12-06 |title=CHINA TAKES ISSUE WITH DIPLOMATIC NICETIES |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/06/world/china-takes-issue-with-diplomatic-niceties.html |access-date=2023-02-20 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Other countries have abused the legal position of couriers for non-diplomatic reasons, such as in Russia to arrest the wife of a defecting official.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-04-19 |title=A picture in time: Evdokia Petrov in the hands of Soviet 'couriers' at Sydney airport |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/20/a-picture-in-time-evdokia-petrov-in-the-hands-of-soviet-couriers-at-sydney-airport |access-date=2023-02-20 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>


==United Kingdom==
==United Kingdom==
{{Main|King's Messenger}}
Diplomatic bags of the [[United Kingdom]] are carried by the [[Queen's Messenger]]s, who work for the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] and by Postal and Courier Operators of the [[Royal Logistic Corps]].
During the turn of the 19th century, the King's Messengers were moved under the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|Foreign Office]], now taking on the modern role of accompanying packages and prevent external tampering of those packages.<ref name=":13"/><ref name=":23"/><ref name=":72">{{Cite web |title=The King's Messengers – Part of FCDO Services |url=https://www.fcdoservices.gov.uk/what-we-offer/secure-logistics/queens-messengers/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=FCDO Services |language=en-GB}}</ref> Although there are still [[King's Messenger]]s today, most packages today are handled under the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]], transported unaccompanied by the FCDOS Secure Logistics service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Secure logistics |url=https://www.fcdoservices.gov.uk/what-we-offer/secure-logistics/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} UK {{!}} Diplomatic bag: The inside story |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/672786.stm |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>


==United States==
==United States==
In 1916, the United States established the [[Diplomatic Security Service]], inspired by the King's Messengers. President Wilson created the organization, tasked with delivering and securing diplomatic documents during World War I.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Trevor |date=April 12, 2018 |title=100 years of secrecy: The story of America's first swashbuckling diplomatic couriers |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/04/11/100-years-secrecy-story-americas-first-swashbuckling-diplomatic-couriers/509179002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214023225/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/04/11/100-years-secrecy-story-americas-first-swashbuckling-diplomatic-couriers/509179002/ |archive-date=February 14, 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |website=USA Today}}</ref> The first courier was [[Amos J. Peaslee]], tasked with sending confidential documents from Paris to Washington, D.C.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Diplomatic Couriers – History |url=http://www.state.gov/m/ds/about/275831.htm |website=U.S. Department of State |publisher=}}</ref> After the war, courier deliveries were transferred to the State Department, creating the Diplomatic Courier Service which continued to deliver important documents and materials into World War II.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Diplomatic Couriers: A Historic Timeline |url=https://afsa.org/us-diplomatic-couriers-historic-timeline |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=afsa.org}}</ref>
The [[United States Department of State]] lists "[[United States Foreign Service|Foreign Service]] Diplomatic Courier" as one of its careers with a starting salary at Foreign Service grade FP-6.<ref name="US">{{cite web |url=http://careers.state.gov/specialist/opportunities/dipcour.html |title=U.S. Department of State Careers - Diplomatic Courier |publisher=U.S. Department of State |accessdate=2009-11-23}}</ref> Couriers are trained for roughly twelve to fourteen weeks in Washington, D.C., and during their careers may be assigned to one of several U.S. diplomatic courier offices around the world, including [[Dakar]], [[Senegal]]; [[Sydney, Australia]]; [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]]; [[Frankfurt]], [[Germany]]; [[Manama]], [[Bahrain]]; [[Pretoria]], [[South Africa]]; [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]; [[Washington, D.C.]]; [[São Paulo]], [[Brazil]] and [[Miami, Florida]].<ref name="US"/>

By the 1950s, diplomatic couriers became common during the [[Cold War]] to deliver information across the [[Iron Curtain]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Behind the Iron Curtain–U.S. Diplomatic Couriers–Department History – Office of the Historian |url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/diplomatic-couriers/behind-the-iron-curtain |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=history.state.gov}}</ref> Allied countries would sometimes coordinate travel with other couriers from allied countries traveling towards the same destination, such as on the [[Orient Express]], with some in the same sleeping arrangements to save on travel time and for security reasons to keep payloads intact.<ref name=":4" />

{{As of|2022}}, American diplomatic couriers are also involved in logistical affairs,<ref name=":62"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last=Adams |first=Eric |title=Riding With the Diplomatic Couriers Who Deliver America's Secret Mail |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/diplomatic-courier-service/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> from flight planning to resource management.<ref name=":5">Martel, Patrick. "Diplomatic Couriers support final operations in Afghanistan." ''State Magazine'', November 2021, 1b+. ''Gale Academic OneFile'' (accessed February 15, 2023). <nowiki>https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.bu.edu/apps/doc/A683063534/AONE?u=mlin_b_bumml&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=e7e64e7c</nowiki>.</ref> Couriers are stationed around the world, acting as diplomatic liaisons and security guards for various operations,<ref name=":0" /> for example aiding in moving supplies during the [[Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2020–2021)|withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan]].<ref name=":5" /> The Diplomatic Courier Service transported 116,351 items weighing approximately 5,353,000 pounds in 2017. The service's only incident involving an item that failed to reach its destination occurred in 1919, when a baby grand piano was lost during transit aboard the [[Orient Express]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Adams |first1=Eric |title=Riding With the Diplomatic Couriers Who Deliver America's Secret Mail |url=https://www.wired.com/story/diplomatic-courier-service/ |access-date=4 September 2018 |magazine=Wired |date=9 January 2018}}</ref> Couriers are trained for roughly twelve to fourteen weeks in Washington, D.C., and during their careers may be assigned to one of various offices around the world.


==References==
==References==
*{{cite web |url=http://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_1_1961.pdf |title=Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations |publisher=United Nations |date=2005 |accessdate=2009-11-23}}
*{{cite web |url=http://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_1_1961.pdf |title=Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations |publisher=United Nations |date=2005 |access-date=2009-11-23}}
{{Reflist}}
<references/>

{{Diplomacy}}
{{Diplomacy}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Diplomats by role]]

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[[Category:Diplomatic law]]
[[Category:United States Department of State]]
[[Category:United States Department of State]]

Latest revision as of 18:37, 5 November 2024

For the 1952 film, see Diplomatic Courier. For the magazine, see The Diplomatic Courier.
Diplomatic couriers inspecting the unloading of diplomatic bags

A diplomatic courier is an official who secures and transports diplomatic bags. Countries have utilized diplomatic couriers to handle important documents, artifacts and supplies between different countries since the 12th century. Following the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, couriers are placed under diplomatic immunity while performing their work. Couriers are usually hired by a specific country and are tasked with protecting and managing bags from being opened. Some couriers are assigned on an ad hoc basis, but in those cases they are released from immunity once their bags have been delivered. The original definition of a diplomatic courier focuses on handling bags, but couriers today also deal with logistical affairs and digital communications.[1]

History

[edit]

The first appearance of a diplomatic courier was in the 12th century, when English kings created the King's Messengers to relay secret information or deliveries.[2] King's Messengers were used during the reign of Richard III; he used the King's Messengers four couriers to deliver private papers in 1485.[3] After continued frustrations with postal systems in the 1500s, some Italian states hired independent freelance messengers to deliver documents between countries, and hiring them as full time couriers.[4] Countries like Spain and France adopted the practice soon after. Couriers in the 1500s were generally assigned to a specific route, such as delivering messages from Paris to London to communicate across the English Channel.[4]

Article 27 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations formalized the diplomatic courier, declaring "A diplomatic bag must never be opened, even on suspicion of abuse, and a diplomatic courier must never be arrested or detained."[5] Despite diplomatic immunity, the position has been abused and couriers have been stopped on occasion for issues regarding their bags. Dutch, Swiss and American couriers were detained in China following disputes over their corresponding bags in 1981.[6] Other countries have abused the legal position of couriers for non-diplomatic reasons, such as in Russia to arrest the wife of a defecting official.[7]

United Kingdom

[edit]
Main article: King's Messenger

During the turn of the 19th century, the King's Messengers were moved under the Foreign Office, now taking on the modern role of accompanying packages and prevent external tampering of those packages.[2][3][8] Although there are still King's Messengers today, most packages today are handled under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, transported unaccompanied by the FCDOS Secure Logistics service.[9][10]

United States

[edit]

In 1916, the United States established the Diplomatic Security Service, inspired by the King's Messengers. President Wilson created the organization, tasked with delivering and securing diplomatic documents during World War I.[11] The first courier was Amos J. Peaslee, tasked with sending confidential documents from Paris to Washington, D.C.[12] After the war, courier deliveries were transferred to the State Department, creating the Diplomatic Courier Service which continued to deliver important documents and materials into World War II.[13]

By the 1950s, diplomatic couriers became common during the Cold War to deliver information across the Iron Curtain.[14] Allied countries would sometimes coordinate travel with other couriers from allied countries traveling towards the same destination, such as on the Orient Express, with some in the same sleeping arrangements to save on travel time and for security reasons to keep payloads intact.[14]

As of 2022, American diplomatic couriers are also involved in logistical affairs,[1][15] from flight planning to resource management.[16] Couriers are stationed around the world, acting as diplomatic liaisons and security guards for various operations,[15] for example aiding in moving supplies during the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.[16] The Diplomatic Courier Service transported 116,351 items weighing approximately 5,353,000 pounds in 2017. The service's only incident involving an item that failed to reach its destination occurred in 1919, when a baby grand piano was lost during transit aboard the Orient Express.[17] Couriers are trained for roughly twelve to fourteen weeks in Washington, D.C., and during their careers may be assigned to one of various offices around the world.

References

[edit]
  • "Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations" (PDF). United Nations. 2005. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  1. ^ a b "Ensuring delivery and retrieval of sensitive U.S. diplomatic materials". Washington Post. May 22, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Our history". FCDO Services. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  3. ^ a b "The Silver Greyhound – The Messenger Service – History of government". history.blog.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  4. ^ a b Allen, E. John B. (1972). Post and Courier Service in the Diplomacy of Early Modern Europe. doi:10.1007/978-94-010-2847-9. ISBN 978-90-247-1496-4.
  5. ^ Bruns, Kai (2014). A Cornerstone of Modern Diplomacy: Britain and the Negotiation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1-62892-154-0.
  6. ^ Wren, Christopher S. (1981-12-06). "CHINA TAKES ISSUE WITH DIPLOMATIC NICETIES". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  7. ^ "A picture in time: Evdokia Petrov in the hands of Soviet 'couriers' at Sydney airport". The Guardian. 2022-04-19. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  8. ^ "The King's Messengers – Part of FCDO Services". FCDO Services. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  9. ^ "Secure logistics".
  10. ^ "BBC News | UK | Diplomatic bag: The inside story". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  11. ^ Hughes, Trevor (April 12, 2018). "100 years of secrecy: The story of America's first swashbuckling diplomatic couriers". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  12. ^ "Diplomatic Couriers – History". U.S. Department of State.
  13. ^ "U.S. Diplomatic Couriers: A Historic Timeline". afsa.org. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  14. ^ a b "Behind the Iron Curtain–U.S. Diplomatic Couriers–Department History – Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  15. ^ a b Adams, Eric. "Riding With the Diplomatic Couriers Who Deliver America's Secret Mail". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  16. ^ a b Martel, Patrick. "Diplomatic Couriers support final operations in Afghanistan." State Magazine, November 2021, 1b+. Gale Academic OneFile (accessed February 15, 2023). https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.bu.edu/apps/doc/A683063534/AONE?u=mlin_b_bumml&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=e7e64e7c.
  17. ^ Adams, Eric (9 January 2018). "Riding With the Diplomatic Couriers Who Deliver America's Secret Mail". Wired. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
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