Great Britain reduced the rank of her agent. These were all considered and felt to be international slights. But it was not long until all the great powers of Europe realized the truth of the words uttered by the French minister in 1859. that "the federal constitution of Switzerland. the asylum offered by her laws to refugees. her geographical position. her neutrality. which forms a kind of boulevard between the contending countries. the multiplicity and nature of the often very delicate questions arising there. require an agent of an elevated rank. and these powers are all today represented in Berne by men of experience and ability. France. heedIng the advice of the minister above quoted. as a fitting compliment to her sister republic advanced her mission to an embassy. and. her agent being the onlyembassador accredited to Berne. by virtue of his superior rank he enjoys the prestige of being the doyen of the diplomatic corps. regardless of actual seniority. With two single exceptions. the United States minister to the Swiss Republic is the only one accredited to her under the rank of an envoy. and even those exceptions are not burdened with the consular addition. and consequently take precedence over one with the hybrid title.
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refugees