Mr. Cushing, Attorney-General, to Mr. McKeon, district attorney.
December 27, 1855.
[507] Sir: I have received your letter of the 26th instant, in which you state that a warrant has been issued against Parker H. French, claiming to be a diplomatic representative of the state of Nicaragua, for an offense against the laws of the United States, charged to have been committed by said French recently, and since he assumed such character, and as to which you request to be informed whether *the said warrant shall be executed. In reply, the President directs me, in the first place, to refer you to the following paragraphs of my letter of the 24th instant, viz:
Yon will perceive that Mr. French is entitled to diplomatic privileges in the United States only in a very qualified degree. He is not an accredited minister, but simply a person coming to this country to present himself as such, and not received, by reason of its failing to appear that he represents any lawful government. Under such circumstances any diplomatic privilege accorded to him is of mere transit, and of courtesy, not of right, and that courtesy will be withdrawn from him so soon as there shall be cause to believe that he is engaged in here, or contemplates, any act not consistent with the laws, the peace, or the public honor of the United States.
He directs me to say, in the second place, that proceeding in the spirit of the fullest consideration for the diplomatic character, he desires you to notify Mr. French of the present charges, and to inform him that no process in behalf of the United States will be served upon, him, provided [Page 631] he shall not become chargeable with any further offense, and shall depart from the country within a reasonable time.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
Hon. John McKeon,
United States District Attorney.