New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-10
o OFFICIAL.
TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS
OF The
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION by the President of
the United States

| minunltles and privileges OF cOnSlls. be
tween the United States of America and his
Majesty the King of the Belgians. was con
cluded and signed by their respective plen
ipotentiaries, at Brussels, on the fifth day OF
December, eighteen hundred and sixty
eight, which convention, being in the
English and French languages, is word for
word as follows:
The President Of the United States OF
America and his Majesty the King OF the
| Belgians, recognizing the utility Of defining
the rights, privileges and immunitics Of con
sular officers in the two countries. deem Il
expedient to conclude consular convention
for that purpose.
Accordingly they have named: The Pres
| ident Of the Emitted States of America
! Henry Shelton Sanford, citizen OF the
United States. their minister resident near
his Majesty the King of the Bclgians and
his Majesty the King of the Belgians. the
Sleur jules Wander Sticheien. grand cross OF
the Order of the Dutch Lion, etc, his min
! lister of foreign affairs; who, after having
| communicated to each other their full
| powers. found to be in good and prODer
form, have agreed upon the following arti-
! cles:
ARTICLE I.
| Each Of the high contracting parties
agrees to receive from the other, cOnsuis-
| general, consels. vice-cons,ls, and consular
| agents. in all its ports, cities and places, ex-
| ccpt 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
nlslcd with the necessary eXequatur free
OF charge, and on the exhibition OF this in
str,lment, they shall be permitted to enjoy
the rights, prerogatives, and immunities
granted by this convention.
ARTICLE III.
Consular officers, citizens of the State by
which they are appointed, shall be exempt
from arrest except In the case of offenscs
which the local legislation qualities rs
crimes. and Furnishes it as such, from mill
tary biietings, from service i'll the militia or
in the national guard, or in the regular
army, and from al taxation, federal, State,
or municipal. ii, however, they arc cit
zens of the State where they reside, or own
property, or engage in business there. they
shall be LA ole to the same charges Of all
kinds rs other citizens of the country, who
are merchants Or owners of property.
ARTICLE ".
No consular officer who is citizen of the
State by which he was appointed and who
Is not engaged in business, shall be COM
PEELED to appear as a witness before the
courts OF the country where he may reside.
When the testimony of such consular officer
Is needed, he shall be invited in writing 10
appear in court, and if unable to do so. his
testimony shall be requested in writing, or
be taken ora ~. at his dwelling OF office.
1t shall De the duty of said consular Off
Ger to comply with this request, without any
delay 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 10 obtain witnesses in their favor.
the appearance in court OF said consular
officer shall be demanded. with all possible
regard to the consular dignity and to the
duties of his office. A similar treatment
shall also he extended to United States con
siils In Belgium, IN the like cases.
ARTICLE V.
Consuls-gencral. cons,lls. vice consuls.
ami consular agents may place over the
outer door Of their offices, OF their dwelling
houses. the arms of their nation. with this
inscription. consulate. or vicc-consulatr.
or consular agency of the United States.
or Of Belgium, etc. And they may also
raise the flag OF their country on their Offices
or dwclling-houses. except in the capital OF
the country, when there is a legation there.
ARTICLE VI.
The consular Offices and dwellings, shall
he at all times inviolablc. The local al,-
thorit!es shall not, under any pretcxt.
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
consular officer is engaged in other business.
the papers relating to the consulate shall be
kept separate.
ARTICLE VII.
In the event OF the death. incapa-
city. or absence of consuls general,
consuls. vice-consuls, and consular
agents. their chandeliers or score
taries. whose official character may
have prev ;oJlslv been made known to the
Department of State at Washington. or to
the minister for foreign affairs in Belgium.
may temporarily exercise their functions
and while thus acting they shall enjoy all
the rights. prerogatiyes and innunitics
granted to the incumbcnts.
ARTICLE VIII.
C0nsuls-general and consuls NAV. with the
appreciation OF their respective govern
meTts. appoint vice-consuls and consular
agents IN the cities, ports and places within
their consular Jurisdiction. These officers
may be citizens of the United States. OF
iStlVlL'H, Ut clEeE IoItl1NfG-. 1ItN Slldu DC
furnished with a commission by the consul |
who appoints them and under whose orders
they are to act. They shall enjoy the priyi |
leges stipulated for consular officers in thi,
subject to the exceptions !
specified in Articles Ill and ".
ARTICLE TX.
Consuls-general, cOnsllls, yicc-cOnSuls and |
consular agents may complain to the au- |
thorities Of the respective countries, whether !
federal or local. judicial or local. judicial or |
executive. within their consular district. OF |
any intraction OF the treaties aud convrn- |
tons between the l nitrtl States and Belgium |
or for the purpose ot protecting the rights |
and interests of their couutrYInen. # the |
complaint should not be satisfactorily re |
dressed. the consular officers aforesaid in |
the absence of diplomatic agent Of their |
may apply directly 10 the govern |
lnent OF the country where they reside.
ARTICLE X.
nsilis-gcnerai, consuls. vicec0nsuls, and !
consular agents may take at their offices. at !
the residence of the parties. at their private
residence. or on board ship. the dispositions |
OF the captains and crews of vessels of their |
own country, Of passengers on board Of !
them, and Of any other citizen Of their M
ton. They may also receive AT their Offices.
coDfornably to the laws and regulations Of |
their country. all contracts between the cit
izcI!s o. their country and the citizens o.
other inhabitants Of the country where they |
reside. and even al contracts between the |
latter provided they relate to property sta !
ated or TO business t. be transacted III the |
territory Of the nation to which said con-
sUlar Office MAJ belong. Copies of such pa
pcrs and official documents OF every kind. |
whctlt. in ti,c original, copies or translation
duiy authenticated and lcgalized BIZ the con
.,rI- ~rr,pyal fDDSuls vice. cOnSl!lS and con- |