New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-07
OF r. CIAL.
TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION by the President of
the United States

| WHEREAS a convention defining the right
immunities and privileges of cOnsuls. b
tween the United States of America and Ii
Majesty the King Of the Belgians, was col
cluded and signed by their respective plel
| ipOtcntiarieS, at Brussels, on the fifth day {
December, eighteen hundred and sEt!
eight, which convention, being in til
English and French languages, is word fU
word as follows:
The President of the United States G
America and his Majesty the King of til
Belgians, recognizing the utility of definin
the rights, privileges and immunities of cor
sular officers in the two countries, deem
| for that purpose.
| Accordingly they have named: The Pres
1 ident of tho United States of America
| Henry Shelton Sanford, citizen of tn
United States, their minister resident nea
his Majesty the King of the Belgians an,
his Majesty the King of the Belgians, tn
Sieur Jules Wander Stichelen grand cross O
the Order of the Dutch Lion, etc, his min
ister of foreign affairs who, after havin:
| communicated to each other their full
powers, found to be in good and proper
form. have agreed upon the following arti
cles:
Each of the high contracting partie:
"SiSto ~ ACNCiNC tUt OtutE, COuSulS
general, cOnsels, 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
III their respective countries, shall be fur
nlshed with the necessary exeGuatur free
of charge, and on the exhibition of this in
strument, 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 offenses
which the local legislation qualities as
crimes, and Furnishes it as such; from mill
tary bllletlngs, from service in the militia or
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 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 ".
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 as p 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 i'll court, and if unable to do so, his
testimony shall be requested in writing. or
m t-1r In, Il
1t shall be the duty of said consular Off
GER to comply with this request, without any
ielay which can be avoided.
In all criminal cases. contemplated by the
sixth article of the amendments to the CON
'titutiOn of the United States. whereby the
light is secured 10 persons charged with
'rimes to obtain witnesses in their favor,
he appearance in court of said consular
'tficcr shall be demanded. with all possible
egard to the consular dignity and to the
luties of his office. A similar treatment
hall also be extended to United States con
uls in Belgium, in the like cases.
ARTICLE V.
Consuls-general. consrlls, vice consuls. |
nd consular agents may place over the
utter door of their offices. or their dwelling
ouses, the arms OF their nation, with this
inscription, consulate, or vice-consulate. |
r consular agency" of the United States, |
L OF Belgium, etc. And they may also |
alse the flag OF their country on their offices |
dTeiilnS-houses. except in the capital of |
he country, when there is a legation there |
ARTICLE VI.
The consular offices and dwellings shall |
e at all times inviolable. The local alt
lorities shall not, under any pretext
wade them. In no case shall they examine
r seize the papers there deposited. In no
ase shall those offices or dwellings be used
5 places of asylum. When. however.
>nsular officer is engaged in other business.
le papers relating to the consulate shall be
ept separate
ARTICLE VIZ.
In the event of the death. incapa-
ty, or absence OF consuls-general.
,nsuls, vicc-consuis, and consular
gents, their chancellers or secre-
lies. whose official character MAY
ave previously been made known to the.
apartment of State at Washington. or to
lie minister for foreign affair, in Belgium.
ay temporarily exercise their functions.
III while thus acting they shall enjoy all
e rights, prerogatives and iMmuniiies
'anted to the incumbents.
ARTICLE VII.
Consuls-general and consuls NAV, with the
probation of their respective govern
ents, appoint vlce-conSuls and consular
'ents in the cities. ports and places within
elr consular jurisdiction. These officers
ay be citizens of the United States. of
.'gium, or other foreigners They shall be
with "A commission by the consul
no appoints them and under whose orders |
ey are to act They shall enjoy the priv
yes stipulated for consular officers in this
invention, subject to the executions
ecitied i'll Articles III and ".
ARTICLE IX.
Consuls- general, consuls, vice -consllIs. and
nsiliar agents, may complain to the au-
critics OF the respective countries. whether
1eral or local, judicial or local. judicial or
ecutive, within their consular district, of
y infraction of the treaties and conven-
MS between the United States and Belgium {
Tor tie purpose OF protecting the rights
u interests OF their countrymcn. Ii the | I
mplaint should not be satisfactorily re-
cssed, the consular officers aforesaid. in | !
absence OF diplomatic agent of their t
untry may apply directly to the govern +
mt OF the country where they reside Q
ARTICLE X.
consuls ce-consuls. and
l5ular agents may take at their offices. at t
residence OF the parties, al their private d
Idence, or on board ship. the deDositions $
the captains and crews o. vessels of their a
n country, of passengers on board OF I
IN, and of any other citizen of their na- I
II. They may also receive at their Offices. t
ltormably to the laws and regulations of o
1T country, all contracts between the cit /
rs of their country and the citizens or a
ler inhabitants OF the country where thew I
ide, and even all contracts between the
ter, provided they relate to property stu
d or to business to be transacted in the :,
ritory of the nation to which said con /
ar Office may belong. Copies Of such pa :
. and official documents OF every kind. :
ether in the original, copies or tran Station =
Y authenticated and legaIized by the con !;
general, consul-, vice consuls. and con :.
AZ agents, and sealed with their official :
shalI bn racniv.i ,s Je,,, dncun,op+, =, ! -