The Treaty of Berlin

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Diplomatic Immunity

Diplomatic Immunity is the immunity from prosecution given to foreign diplomats, their families and their staff. Diplomatic Immunity (DI) prevents the diplomat from harassment by foreign governments. Immunity is not lightly given. Abuse of DI is grounds for censure and/or expulsion by the foreign government.

The American Ambassador, his wife, his staff, and Senator Carver (Harrison, Elinor, Edward, Nicole, the Inspector, and Shannon) have DI for any crimes committed on German soil. However, since the Embassy grounds are American soil, these people do NOT have immunity for crimes committed within the Embassy.

The Soviet and German Ambassadors, and their spouses (Grigori and Magda, Natasha and Horst, Rudolf and Elsa Marie) have DI for any crimes committed on the grounds of the American Embassy. All but Natasha and Horst have DI for any crimes committed in East Berlin and East Germany. All but Rudolf and Elsa Marie have DI for any crimes committed in West Berlin and West Germany.

The characters named above have DI in some form. The other characters are not diplomats and do not have DI. Several other characters have a lot of pull, having strong connections to their governments. Nevertheless, these people do NOT have DI. Embarrassing these people could have serious repercussions, but not as serious as hassling those people with DI.

People with DI may refuse to answer any questions about a crime in which they may be implicated. They may ask to leave the scene of a crime. Of course, within an Embassy, the Ambassador may attempt to restrain those attempting to leave, at the risk of an international incident. In the case of a murder within an Embassy, unusual methods might be acceptable. The sight of one or more of the Embassy guards or a deputized national (in this case an American citizen) asking very politely with a gun would be enough to restrain those attempting to leave until matters are more settled.

If the victim of the murder is someone with DI, then another representative of that government may request that the body be immediately taken to the nearest home soil of the victim. (This is usually the embassy that the victim was associated with.) Again, a very polite request might be needed in order to maintain order until the implications of the murder can be resolved.

The grounds of the American Embassy is American soil. Any crimes committed within these grounds are crimes that are subject to American law and American law enforcement techniques.