French Consulate demands respect

NEW YORK — In a sign that relations between Washington and Paris remain a bit testy, a notice on the front door of the French Consulate in New York warns Americans applying for a visa to check their attitude before entering.

"Visas for France are not a right. Persons applying for visas are requested to show due respect for Consular personnel. Failure to do so will result in the denial of the application and denied entry into any of the EU countries," says the sign posted in English at the French Consulate at 10 East 74th St., referring to the European Union.

French Foreign Ministry officials did not reply when asked for an explanation, making it impossible to determine when the notice first appeared. Andre Sirois, a lawyer who practices international law at the United Nations, said the warning in French is even stronger: "This is very rude, undiplomatic and probably illegal. ... Actually, it could cause a good rift between France and those [European] countries who have probably not delegated their visa authority to the French government," said Mr. Sirois, who is French-Canadian by birth. Mr. Sirois said he knows of no law that gives any one European Union nation a veto over immigration actions of another.

Why post a sign? If a person is rude, send them packing. Posting a sign like this is insulting to those who have no intention of being rude and implies they can refuse service at their whim.

This is a good way to get less not more respect.