Diplomatic démarches are delivered to the appropriate official of the government or organization. Démarches generally seek to persuade, inform, or gather information from a foreign government. Governments may also use a démarche to protest or object to actions by a foreign government. Informally, the word is sometimes used as a verb to describe making or receiving such correspondence.
The U.S. government defines démarche as "a request or intercession with a foreign official, e.g., a request for support of a policy, or a protest about the host government's policy or actions". The US government issues démarches to foreign governments through "front-channel cable" instructions from the United States Department of State. Any Department of State officer or other official under the authority of the chief of mission can make a démarche. Unless the Department provides specific instructions as to rank, the post has discretion to determine who should make the presentation and which official in the host government should receive it.
Preparation of the démarche
Démarche instruction cables from the Department should include the following elements:
Objective: The objective is a clear statement of the purpose of the démarche, and of what the U.S. Government hopes to achieve.
Arguments: This section outlines how the Department proposes to make an effective case for its views. It should include a rationale for the U.S. Government’s position, supporting arguments, likely counter-arguments, and suggested rebuttals.
Background:The background should spell out pitfalls; particular sensitivities of other bureaus, departments, or agencies; and any other special considerations.
Suggested talking points: Suggested talking points should be clear, conversational, and logically organized. Unless there are compelling reasons to require delivery, the démarche instruction cable should make it clear that post may use its discretion and local knowledge to structure and deliver the message in the most effective way.
Written material: This section is used to provide instructions on any written material to be left with the host government official. Such material could take the form of an aide-mémoire, a letter, or a "non-paper" that provides a written version of the verbal presentation
Delivery and follow-up action
Upon receipt of démarche instructions from the Department, posts should make every effort to deliver the démarche to the appropriate foreign government official as soon as possible. After delivering the démarche, the post should report to the Department via front-channel cable. The reporting cable should include the instruction cable as a reference, but it need not repeat the talking points transmitted in that cable. It should provide the name and title of the person to whom the démarche was made, and record that official’s response to the presentation. As appropriate, the reporting cable should also describe any specific follow-up action needed by post, Department, or the foreign government.
