New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-13
CONVENTIONS AND TREATIES.
A PROCLAMATION by the President O

A PROCLAMATION by the President of
the United States
WHEREAS convention defining the rights.
immunities and privileges Of consuls, 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, ut Brussels, on the fifth day of
December. eighteen hundred and sixty
eight, which convention, being in the
En- glish 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 immunities OF con-
sular officers in the two countries, deem 1t
expedient to conclude consular convention
Accordingly they have named: The Pres
ident of the United States of America,
Henry Shelton Sanford, citizen OF. the
United States, their minister resident near
his Majesty the King of the Belgians; and
his Majesty the King OF the Belglans, the E.
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 to be in good and proper
form, have agreed upon the following arti-
| clcs:
ARTICLE l.
Each of the high contracting parties
agrees to receive from the other, consuls-
| general. conscls, vice-cOnsuls, and consular
agents, in all its ports, cities and places, ex-
| cept those where it 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 he FUR
| nished with the necessary eXeQuatur free
| of charge. and on the exhibition OF this in
strument. they shall be permitted to enjoy
| the rights, prerOgativcs, and lmmunltles
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 Otfenses
which the local Legislation qualities as
| crimes, and Furnishes it as such; from mill
| tarv billetings, from service in the militia or
in the national guard, or i'll the regular
army. and from all taxation, federal, State,
or municipal. If, however, they are citi-
zens of the State where they reside, or own
property, or engage in business there, they
| kinds as other citizens Of the country, who
are merchants or owners OF property.
ARTICLE ".
No consular officer who is a citizen of the
State by which he was appointed, and who
is not engaged in business, shall be com
| PEELED to appear 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 OH
Ger to comply with this request, without any
delay which can be avoided.
In all criminal eases, contemplated by the
| sixth article of the amendments to the con
stitution of the United States. whereby the
| right is secured to persons charged VIII
| crimes to obtain witnesses Ill 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, in the like cases.
| ARTICLE "
Consuls-general, consuls, vice consuis
4 and consular agents may place over the
outer door of their offices, or their dwelling
houses the arms of their nation, with thl:
inscription, consulate, or yice-cOnSlllate
or consular agency of the United States
or of Belgium etc. ANA they may als'
raise the flag OF their country on their office!
or dwelling houses, except in the capital o
the country, when there is legation there
| ARTICLE VI.
The consular offices and dwellings shall
be at all times inviolable. The local au
thorities shall not, under any pretext
invade them. In no case shall they examine
or seize the papers there deposited In M
case shall those offices OF. dwellings be uset
as places of asylum. When. however, ;
consular officer is engaged in other business
the papers relating to the consulate shall b'
kept separate.
ARTICLE VII.
In the event of the death, incapa
city, or absence of consuls-general
consuls, vice-consuls, and consula
{ agents, their chancellers or secre
. taries, whose official character ma.
, have previously been made known to tn