Ambassador, a diplomatic officer of highest rank. Of various agents that may be sent abroad by a government to look after its interests, consuls, envoys, and ministers, the ambassador is the highest, and is supposed to be sent by a nation of high standing to another of equal rank. An ambassador is ranked as a personal representative of his sovereign. He is entitled to admission for a personal talk with the monarch of the court to which he is sent. Not to grant such an audience would be an affront to the sovereign of the ambassador. A mere minister is entitled to an audience from the secretary of state or prime minister. It is considered wise to clothe an ambassador with more authority than a minister or envoy. Like other diplomatic agents, the ambassador, his family, and entire retinue are granted special privileges in the capital of the country in which they reside. They are exempt from arrest. It is a question in international law whether a member of the ambassador's official family may be arrested, even for murder. An offense is reported to the home government for proper correction. By an act of 1893 Congress authorized the president to appoint an ambassador to Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Russia. Japan, Turkey, and Brazil have been added to the list. The governments that receive ambassadors from the United States also send ambassadors to Washington. Our ambassadors receive salaries of $17,500, but house rent and other expenses necessary to keep up appearances at a wealthy capital far outrun the salary. The German Empire maintains ambassadors at Rome, Madrid, Washington, London, Paris, St. Petersburg, Vienna, and Constantinople, with salaries ranging from $25,000 to $37,000 each.