The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-19
toyYIoIAL.I
ny thePresident OF the United state.
of America.

A N T N.
Whereas a convention defining the rights,
immunltics and privileges Of consuls, be-
tween the United States of America and his
Majesty the King of Italy, was concluded
and signed by their respective plenipoten-
tiarics at Washington, the eighth day Of
February, eighteen hundred and sixty eight,
which convention being In the English and
Italian languages, Is word for word, as fol-
lows;
The President of the United States and
his Majesty the King Of Italy, recognizing
the utility Of defining the rights, privileges,
and immunities Of consular officers In the
two countries, deem 1t expedient to conclude
consular convention for that purpose.
Accordingly, they have named; the Prosl-
dent Of the United States, William H. Sew
ard, Secretary Of State OF the United States;
his Majesty the King of Italy, the Com
mander Marcello Cerruti, &c.; who, after
communicating to each other their full pow
crs, found In good and due form, have agreed
upon the following articles;
ARTICLE |.
Each OF the high contracting parties
agrees to receive from the other consuls gen.
eral, eonsuls, vice-consuls, and consular
agents, In all Its ports, cities, and places,
except those where II may not be convenient
to recognize such officers. This reservation,
however, shall not apply to one OF the high
contracting parties without also applying to
every other power.
ARTICLE II.
Consular officers, on the presentation of
their commissions In the forms established
In their respective countries, shall be fur
nlshed with the necessary exequatur free Of
charge, and on the exhibition OF this instru-
ment they shall be permitted to enjoy the
rights, prerogatlvcs, and immunities granted
by this convention.
ARTICLE III.
Consular officers, citizens or subjects of
the State by which they are appointed, shall
be exempt from arrest, except In the case of
offences which the local legislation oualIaes
as crimes, and Furnishes as such; from mill
tary billctings, from service In the militia or
In the national guard, or In tho regular
army, and from all taxation, Federal, State,
or municipal. II, however, they are citizens
or subjects Of the State where they reside, or
own property, or engage In business there,
they shall be liable to the Same charges OF
all kinds as other citizens or subjects Of the
country, who arc merchants or owners Of
property.
ARTICLE ".
No consular officer who is citizen or sub
Jcct of the State by which he was appointed,
and who Is not engaged In business, shall be
compelled to-appear as witness before the
courts Of the country where he may reside.
When the testimony Of such consular off,
Ger Is needed, he shall be invited In writing
to appear In court, and II unable to do so,
his testimony shall be requested In writ
Ing, or be taken orally, at his dwelling or
office.
It shall be the duty Of said consular officer
to comply with this request, without any de-
lay which can be avoided.
In all criminal cases, contemplated by the
sixth article Of the amendments to the Con-
stitution Of the United States, whereby the
right Is secured to persons charged with
crimes to obtain witnesses In their favor, the
appearance In court of said consular officer
shall be demanded, with all possible regard
10 the consular dignity and to the duties OF
his office. similar treatment shall also be
extended to United States consuls In Italy In
the like cases.
ARTICLE
Consuls general, consuls, vice-consuls, and
consular agents may place over the outer
door Of their offices, or Of their dwelling
houses, the arms OF their nation, with this
inscription, consulate, or vice consulate, or
consular agency" of the United States, or of
Italy, &C., &c. And they may also raise the
flag OF their country on their offices or dwell
lings, except In the capital Of the country,
when there is a legation there.
ARTICLE VI.
The consular offices and dwellings shall be
at all times inylolable. The local authorl-
ties shall not, under any pretert, invade
them. In no case shall they examine or
seize the papers there deposited. In no case
shall those offices or dwellings be used as
places of asylum. When, however, a COM
sular officer Is engaged In other business the
papers relating to the consulate shall be kept
separate.
ARTICLE VII.
In the event Of the death, lncapaclty, or
absence of consuls general, consuls, vice.
consuls, and consular agents, their chancel-
Tors or secretaries, whose official character
may have previously been made known to
the Department Of State at Washington, or
TO the minister for foreign affairs In Italy,
may temporarily exercise their functions,
and while thus acting they shall enjoy ali
the rights, prcrogatlycs, and immunltics
granted to the incumbents.
ARTICLE VIII.
Consuls general and consuls may, with
the appreciation of their respective govern
mcnts, appoint vlcc-consuls and consular
agents In the cities, ports, and places within
their consular Jurisdiction. These officers
may be citizens Of the United States, italian
subjects, or other foreigners. They shall be
furnished with commission by the consul
who appoints them and under whose orders
they are to act, They shall enjoy the priv.
ileges stipulated for consular officers In this
convention, subject to the exceptions specl-
fed In Articles III and ".
ARTICLE TX.
Conruls general, consuls, vlce-consuls, and
consular agents, may complain to the au-
thoritles Of the respective countries, whether
federal or local, Judicial or local, judicial or
executive, within their consular district, of
any infraction Of the treaties and conyen-
tons between the United States and Italy, or
for the purpose OF protecting the rights and
interests OF their countrymen. If the COM
plant should not be satisfactorily redressed,
the consular officers aforesaid, In the absence