New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-06
oar FICIAL..
TREATIES AND convEar1o1s
UNITED ssTATEs OF AMERICA

UNITED eETATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION by the President Of
the United States.
| WHEREAS q convention defining the rights
immunities and privileges of conss,ls, be
tween the Gnited States of America and his
Majesty TIE King of the Belgians, was con
| cluded and signed by their respective pIen
ipOtentiaries, at Brussels, on the fifth day OF
| December, eighteen hundred and sixty.
| eight, which convention, being ia the
English and French languages, is word for
| word as follows:
The President of the United States of
! America and his Majesty the King ct the
Belgians, recognizing the utility Of defining
| the rights, privileges and immunities OF con-
4 sular officers ia the two countries, deem 1t
expedient to conclude q consular convention
for that purpose.
Accordingly they have named: The Pres
ident of the United States Of America,
Henry Shelton Sanford, q citizen Of the
| United States, their minister resident near
his Majesty tAesking Of the Belgians and
his Majesty thelAing Of the Belgians, the
,Sieur Jules Wander Stichelen, 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 ito be in good and proper
form, have agreed upon the following arti-
cles:
Each of the high contracting parties
agrees to receive from the other, consuls-
general, consels, :yace-consuls, and consular
agents, in all its ports, cities and places, ex-
cept those where 1t may not be convenient
to recognize such officers. This reservation,
however, shall nOtaapply to one of the high
contracting parties without also applying to
every other power.
ARTscLE II.
Consular officers, on the presentation of
their commissions in the forms established
in their respective cenntries, shall be fur
Gished with the necessary eXeGuatur free
Of charge, and on the exhibition of this in
st,;ument, they shall be permitted to enjoy
the rights, prerOgatises, and immunities
gcanted 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 as
crimes, and Furnishes it as such; from mill
tary 6iiletings, from service in the militia or
in the national guard, or in the regular
army, and from all taxation, federal, State,
or municipal II, however. they are citi-
zens 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 of the country, who
are merchants or owners Of property.
ARTICLE ". r
No consular officer who is q Cd d of the
State by which he was appOiutex, and who
is not engaged in business, shall be COM
PEELED to appear as q 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 to
appear in court, and if unable to do SO, his
testimony shall be requested in writing, OF
be taken orally. at his dwelling or office.
1t shall be 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 theecOn-
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 to the consular dignity and to the
duties of his office. A similar treatment
shall also be extended to United States con-
suls in Belgium, i'll the like cases.
ARTICLE V.
Consuls- general, consuls, vice consuls,
and consular agents may place over the
outer door Of their offices, or their dwelling
houses, the arms of their nation, with this
inscription, consulate, or vice-consulate,
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 dwelling houses, except in the capital of
the country, when there is a legation there.
4. ARTICLE VI.
The consular offices and dwellings, shall
be at all times inviOlable. The local au-
th0rities shall not, under any pretext,
invade them. In no case shall they examine
or seize the papers there deposited. In no
case shall those offices or dwellings be used
az 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 cOnsulsgenerah,
consuls, vice-consuls, and consular
agents, their chancellers or secre-
taries, whose official character may
have previously 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 ali
the rights, prerOgatives and immunities
granted to the inchmbents.
Consuls-general and consuls may, with the
appreciation of their respective govern
ments, 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
Belgium, or other foreigners. They shall be
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 this
convention, subject to the exceptions
specified in Articles III and ".
ARTICLE TX.
Consuls-general, consuls, vice-consuls. and
consular agents, may complain to the al,-
thOrities 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 conven-
lions between the United States and Belgium
or for the purpose of protecting the rights
and interests of their countrymen. Ii the
complaint should not be satisfactorily re-
dressed, the consular officers aforesaid, in
the absence of a diplomatic agent of their
country, may apply directly to the govern
ment Of the country where they reside.
ARTICLE X.
Consuls-general, consuls, vice-consuls, and
consular age may take at their Offices, at
the residence 4f the parties, at their private
of the captains and crews of vessels of their
own country, Of passengers on board of
them, and Of any other citizen Of their ma
ton. They may also receive at their offices,
cOnfOrmably to the laws and regulations of
their country, all contracts between the cit
liens of their country and the citizens or
other inhabitants OF the country where they