New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-27

rrHAr1tss AND CONVENTIONS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION by the President O
+La Irui+ad States

A PROCLAMATION by the President OF
the United States.
WHEREAS convention defining the rights
immunities and privileges OF consuis; pe-
tween the United States of America ana his
Majesty the King of the 'Belgians. was con-
Guided and signed by their respective pen
ipotentiaries, at Brussels, on the min uaS Oh
December, eighteen hundred and SKY
eight, which convention, being ~ tne
English and French languages, Is word tor
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 immunitles OF con
suIar officers in the two countries, deem IL
expedient to conclude consular convention
for that purpose.
Accordingly they have named: The Pres
ident of the United States OF America
Henry Shelton Sanford, a citizen OF the
United States, their minister resident heal
his Majesty the King of the Belgians; ana
his Majesty the King of the Belgians, the
Sieur Jules Wander Stichelen, grand cross OF
the Order of the Dutch Lion. ETC., his MN
lister Of foreign affairs; who, after having
communicated to each other their fuii
powers, found to be in good and proper
FORM have agreed upon the following arti-
cles:
ARTICLE I.
Each of the high contracting parties
agrees to receive from the other, consiis-
general, consels. vice-cOnsuls, and consular
agents, in all its ports, cities and places, eA-
cept those where il may not be convenient
to recognize such officers. 1hls feserVa,!ol,'
however. shall not apply to one of the high
contracting parties without also applying u
every other power.
ARTICLE II.
Consular officers, on the presentation OF
their commissions III the forms established
in their respective countries, shall be iuf'
nisied with the necessary exequatur tree
of charge, and on the exhibition of this In
ssrument, they shall be permitted to ENJOY
the rights, prer0gatiyes. and Immunitles
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 0ftensei
which the local legislation qualities as
crimes. and Furnishes it as such; from mill
tary billetings, from service in the militia OF
in the national guard, or in the regular
army. and from all taxation, federal, State
or municipal If. however, they are citi
zens of the State where they reside. or OWL
property, or engage i'll business there, they
shall he liable to the same charges OF al
kinds as 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 wh'
is not engaged in business, shall be com
PEELED to appear as a witness before IN
courts of the country where he may reside
When the testimony of such consular office
is needed, he shall be invited in writing I
appear in court, and if unable to do so, hi
testimony shall be requested in writing, O.
be taken orally, at his dwelling or office. -,
Il shall be the duty Of said consular OH
Ger to comply with this request, without an.
delay which can be avoided.
In all criminal cases, contemplated by tn
sixth article of the amendments to the con
stitution OF the United States, whereby tn
right is secured to persons charged Wit
crimes to obtain witnesses in their favor
the appearance in court of said consula
officer shall be demanded. with all possibl
regard to the consular dignity and to til
duties of his Office. A similar treatnen
shall also be extended TO United States cor
suls in Belgium, in the like cases.
ARTICLE V.
Consuls-gene consuls, vice consul:
and consular agents may place over tn
outer door of their offices, or their dwellin
houses, the arms OF their nation, with thl
inscription, consulate, or vice-cOnsulatt
or consular agency" Of the United States
or of Belgium, etc. And they may ais
raise the flag OF their country on their Office
or dwelling houses, except in the capital
the country, when there is a legation Their
ARTICLE VI.
The consular offices and dwellings sha
| be at all times inviolable. The local al
| thorities shall not, under any preteX
| invade them. In no case shall they examll
or seize the papers there deposited: In Il
case shall those offices or dwellings be Use
| as places of asylum. When, however,
| consular officer is engaged III other bushes
| the papers relating to the consulate shall
| kept separate.
| ARTICLE VII.
In the event Of the death, incap
| city, or absence of cOnsuls-genera
consuls, yice-consuls. and consul;
| agents, their chancellers or seer
taries, whose official character ma
have previously been made known to II
| Department Of State at Washington, or
the minister for foreign affairs in Belgium
may temporarily exercise their function
and while thus acting they shall enjoy a
the rights, prerOgatives and immunity
! granted to the incumbents.
! ARTICLE VIII.
| Consuls-reneral and consuls may, with Il
| appreciation Of their respective COVER
ments. appoint viceconsuls and consul
agents in the cities, ports and places with
their consular jurisdiction. These office
| NAV be citizens Of the United States,
Belgium, or other foreigners. They shall
| furnished with a commission by the cons
who appoints them and under whose orde
they are to act. They shall enjoy the pri'
leges stipulated for consular officers In til
convention, subject to the exception
specified in Articles iii and Nv.
ARTICLE TX.
Consuls-general, consuls, vice-consuls, al
consular agents, may complain to the a
thOrities Of the respective countries, wheth
federal or local. judicial or local, judicial
executive, within their consular district,
any infractiOn of the treaties and cOnye
tons between the United States and Belgill
or for the purpose OF protecting the rigl
and interests of their cOuntrymen. If t
complaint should not be satisfactorily
dressed, the consular officers aforesaid,
the absence of diplomatic agent OF the
country, may apply directly to the Cover
ment Of the country where they reside.
ARTICLE X.
J Consuls- general, consuls vice-cOnsuls, a
, consular agents may take at their offices,
the residence of the parties, at their priva
residence, or on board ship, the depositio
of the captains and crews Of vessels Of tin
own country, of passengers on board
J them, and of any other citizen of their
, ton. They may also receive at their otfic
cOnformably to the laws and regulations
, their country. all contracts between the {
| liens of their country and the citizens
, other inhabitants of the country where til
, reside. and even all contracts between I
latter provided they relate to property 81
| ated or to business to be transacted in t
territory of the nation to which said CO
f sular office may belong. Copies Of such
, pers and official documents of every XII