ˌextraterriˌtoriˈality
[f. prec. + -ity.]
The privilege accorded by the Law of Nations to ambassadors of being regarded as outside the territory of the power to which they are sent, and therefore of being free from its jurisdiction. Also exterritoriality. Extended later to denote the right of jurisdiction of a country over its nationals abroad, or the status of persons living in a foreign country but not subject to its laws. Cf. extrality.
| 1836 Wheaton Internat. Law iii. i. §15 The fiction of extra-territoriality..by which the minister, though actually in a foreign country, is supposed still to remain within the territory of his own sovereign. 1869 Daily News 8 Jan., In Rome, at one time, this extra-territoriality was made to extend to the inhabitants of the quarter in which the residence of an Ambassador was situated. 1888 Morn. Post 24 Sept., By starting from the German embassy instead of from the Quirinal the Emperor will come to the Pope with all the prestige of extra-territoriality upon him. 1901 Westm. Gaz. 28 Jan. 1/2 To do in China what we have just done in Japan and are anxious that others should do in Egypt—abolish the principle of extra-territoriality, and submit outselves one and all..to the laws and institutions of China. 1925, 1926 [see extrality]. 1928 G. W. Keeton (title) The development of extraterritoriality in China. 1954 Ann. Reg. 1953 299 The form of extraterritoriality represented by the U.S. bases in Japan. 1957 K. A. Wittfogel Oriental Despotism 434 The Capitulations, which gave privileged foreigners judicial and economic extraterritoriality, were particularly apparent in Constantinople. |
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Add: Also, the extension of economic or commercial regulations by a government or company beyond its home country.
| 1979 Washington Post 8 Apr. m4/2 He contends that charges from abroad that the U.S. is trying to force its policies on others is [sic]..a ploy. ‘Their bottom line..is not extraterritoriality,’ he says. 1984 Listener 8 Mar. 7/1 The row over ‘extraterritoriality’ has now resurfaced in the shape of a letter from IBM UK to companies leasing certain of its computers to British customers. 1986 N.Y. Times 27 Jan. a2/3 The Reagan Administration hoped to avoid the problems of extraterritoriality by limiting the reach of the sanctions against Libya. |