New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-22
OF TT CT AL.
TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS
OF THE
limited STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION by the President of
the United States.

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A PROCLAMATION by the President of
the United States.
WHEREAS convention defining the rights,
and privileges of cOnsuls, be-
tween the United States of America and his
Majesty the King of the Belgians, was con-
Guided 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 immunities OF con-
sular officers in the two countries, deem 1t
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 near
his Majesty the King Of the Belgians; and
his Majesty the King 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 to be in good and proper
form, have agreed upon the following arti-
Giles:
ARTICLE /.
Each of the high contracting parties
agrees to receive from the other, cOnsuls-
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
49, Vxifh e1S aunlx-y IN
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, prerOgatives, and lmmunltaes
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
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 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 citizen of the
State by which he was appointed, and who
is not engaged in business, shall be com
PEELED to appear as witness before the
20 ba 10
When the testimony of such consular officer
is needed, he shall be invited in writing t.
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 thu
sixth article Of the amendments to the con
stitution of the United States, whereby thu
right is secured to persons charged viii
crimes to obtain witnesses in their favor
the appearance in court Of said cOnsulal
officer shall be demanded, with all possibl,
regard to the consular dignity and TO TIN
duties of his office. A similar treatmen
shall also be extended to United States con
suls in Belgium, in the like cases.
ARTICLE V.
and consular agents may place over thu
outer door of their offices, or their dwellin:
houses, the arms of their nation, with thi
inscription, consulate, or vice-cOnSulate
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 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 eXamin
OF seize the papers there deposited. In IL
case shall those offices or dwellings be use'
consular officer is engaged in other business
the papers relating to the consulate shall b
kept separate.
In the event of the death, incapa
cons,lls, vice-cOnsuls,> and consula
agents, their chancellers or secre
taries, whose official character ma
have previously been made known to tn
Department Of State at Washington, or t
the minister for foreign affairs in Belgium
| may temporarily exercise their function!
and while thus acting they shall enjoy al
the rights, prerOgatives and inlmunitie
| granted to the incumbents.
ARTICLE VIII.
| Consuls-general and consuls may, with til
! appreciation of their respective govern
| ments, appoint vice-cOns1ls and consula
| agents in the cities, ports and places with
| their consular jurisdiction. These officer
may be citizens of the United States,
Belgium, or other foreigners. They shall b
| furnished with commission by the cons,
who appoints them and under whose orde,
they are to act. They shall enjoy the priv
leges stipulated for consular officers in TIL
| c0ventiOn, subject to the exception
| sIecitied in Articles III and w.
ARTICLE TX.
| Consuls-general, cOnsuls, vice-consuls, an
| consular agents, may complain to the Al
thOrities of the respective countries, wheth'
federal or local, judicial Or local, judicial {
| executive, within their consular district,
any infractiOn of the treaties and conve
| tons between the United States and Belgiu
or for the purpose of protecting the RICH
and interests of their countrymen. Ii Il
| complaint should not be satisfactorily I
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 Y.
Consuls-general, consuls, vice-consuls, ar
consular agents may take at their offices,
the residence of the parties, at their priva
residence, or on board ship, the deposition
of the captains and crews of vessels of the
own country, Of passengers on board
them, and of any other citizen Of their n
ton. They may also receive at their office
conformably to the laws and regulations
their country, all contracts between the G
liens of their country and the citizens
other inhabitants of the country where thu
reside, and even all contracts between Il