Switzerland became the protecting power for the UK in Argentina, taking over responsibility not only for the former Embassy but two Consulates-General.
42.
A country may, in lieu of sending its own diplomatic representative to the receiving state, appoint a third state to be its protecting power.
43.
This made it impossible to appoint a protecting power, as the belligerents had to agree on a country that had diplomatic relations with both sides.
44.
This difficulty was resolved by Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, which stipulated that the belligerents should nominate protecting powers to the International Red Cross.
45.
Due to its long-standing neutrality, Switzerland has served as the protecting power for many countries that did not have diplomatic relations with each other.
46.
Bibescu approved the contract, but the Public Assembly protested against it : the deputies saw it as an intervention of the protecting power in local politics.
47.
The protecting power relationship originated in the Franco-Prussian War, when the belligerents expelled each other's diplomats and placed restrictions on enemy aliens.
48.
The energetic efforts of Elihu B . Washburne, the American Minister to France, set a precedent for the future actions of protecting powers in war.
49.
However, the United States was no longer seen as a disinterested neutral, and no Axis power asked the United States to be its protecting power.
50.
The United States was initially a popular choice for protecting power, going back to its protection of the North German Confederation during the Franco-Prussian War.
