United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Practice relating to Rule 66. Non-Hostile Contacts between the Parties to the Conflict
Section C. Definition of parlementaires
The UK Military Manual (1958) states: “The usual agents in the non-hostile intercourse of belligerent armies are known as
parlementaires.”
The manual also states:
A person to be regarded as a
parlementaire must be authorised by one of the belligerents to enter into communication with the other and must present himself under cover of a white flag. The authorisation [for a parlementaire to enter into negotiations] should be in writing and be signed by the sending commander.
The UK LOAC Manual (2004) states:
Negotiations between belligerent commanders are normally conducted, at least in the first instance, by an intermediary, known technically as a “parlementaire”, normally operating under a flag of truce, who has been authorized in writing under the signature of the sending commander.