(a) Consular officers shall perform such duties in connection with the protection of U.S. nationals abroad as may be required by regulations prescribed by the Secretary of State.

(b) U.S. citizens seeking protection, welfare, or other routine American Citizen Services, Special Consular Services, and consular crisis preparedness and response from an American Citizens Services Unit at a U.S. embassy or consulate may be assisted in related proceedings by a third party of their own choice at their own expense in accordance with 22 CFR 50.52.

(c) For purposes of this part, consular officer includes any United States citizen employee of the Department of State who is designated by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Overseas Citizens Services to perform consular services overseas.

Diplomatic representatives and consular officers shall not request the presence of a naval force in a foreign port unless a public emergency so necessitates. The request may be addressed to the officers in command of the naval force, in which event responsibility of action rests with them, or it may be addressed to the Department of State. In either case, the request should contain detailed reasons for its submission.

Where treaty provisions, local laws, or established usage permit, a consular officer should protect the interests of American citizens claiming foreign estates and inheritances.

In the absence of special provisions by treaty the devolution and transfer of real property are covered by the law of the place where the property is situated. When real property is left by the decedent within the country where death occurs, or where the decedent was domiciled at the time of death, the consular officer, or diplomatic officer, if there be no consular officer, should if feasible informally observe the proceedings and report to the diplomatic mission or the Department any apparent irregularity or unnecessary delay in settling the estate.

Except in a public emergency, no diplomatic or consular officer of the United States shall accept private property for storage or safekeeping in the office or for transmission to some other destination, unless it is property belonging to the estate of a deceased American citizen, or property over which the officer has jurisdiction as a result of a catastrophe at sea. In public emergencies, officers may accept private property for storage and safekeeping or for transmission to another destination, provided the owner signs a statement to the effect that the property is being accepted for deposit at his request, at his own risk, and with full knowledge that neither the Government of the United States nor any of its officers assumes responsibility therefor.

Diplomatic or consular officers of the United States shall extend every possible aid and assistance within their power to distressed American citizens within their districts, but they shall not expend the funds nor pledge the credit of the Government of the United States for this purpose, except in the case of American seamen, or except as authorized by the Department of State.

Whenever a great catastrophe occurs abroad, either on land or on sea, the officer within whose district the catastrophe takes place or into whose district the survivors are brought shall report immediately by telegraph the names of any American citizens who have been killed or injured and the names of American citizens known to be safe.

Officers and employees of the Foreign Service may cooperate fully with the American Red Cross within their respective districts and subject to the limitations prescribed in § 102.806 (22 CFR, 1947 Supp.). They shall, however, avoid taking an active part in the solicitation of memberships or the collection of funds.

The chief of the mission concerned may exercise his discretion in the matter of procuring the presentation of American citizens at the court of the country to which he is accredited.