New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-23
o r r ICIA L d.
TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION by the President Q
the United States.
WHEREAS a convention defining the rights
immunities and privileges of consuis, Dc
tween the United States Of America and hi
Majesty the King of the Belgians, was con
cluded and signed by their respective plen
ipotentiaries, at Brussels, on the fifth day o
December, eighteen hundred and sixty
eight, which convention, being in tn
English and French languages, Is word TO
word as follows:
America and his Majesty the King of til,
Bclgians, recognizing the utility of defining
the rights. privileges and immunities Of con
sular officers in the two countries, deem i
expedient to conclude q consular convention
for that purpose.
Accordingly they have named: The Pres
ideut of the United States of America
Henry Shelton Sanford, citizen of the
United States, their minister resident neal
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 10 cdCA OluCA SACA AuA
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, cOnsuls
general, consels, vice-cOnsuls, and consular
agents, in all its ports, cities and places, ex
cent 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 be 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 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 billetings, 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 citizen of the
State by which he was appointed, and who
is not engaged in business, shall be COM
PEELED to appear as a 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, or
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 the con-
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, in 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
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 nc
case shall those offices or dwellings be used
as places Of asylum. When. however, a
consular officer is engaged i'll other business,
the papers relating to the consulate shall be
kept separate.
In the event of. the death, incapa,
city, or absence of consuls-general,
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,
and while thus acting they shall enjoy all
the rights, prerOgatives and immunities
granted to the incumbents.
ARTICLE VIII.
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 commission by the consul
who appoints them and under whose orders
they are to act. They shall enjoy the priv
leges stipulated for consular officers in this
convention, subject to the exceptions
specified in Articles III and ~.
COnsuls-gcneral, consuls, vice-consuls, and
consular agents, may complain to the au
thOrities of the respective countries, whether
federal or local, judicial or local, judicial OF
executive, within their consular district, OF
any infraction of the treaties and cOnven
tons between the United States and Belgium
or for the purpose of protecting the rights
and interests of their cOuntrymen. If 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.
COns,1s-general, cOnsuls, vice-consuls, and
consular agents may take at their offices, at
the residence of the parties, at their private
residence, or on board ship, the dispositions
of the captains and crews of vessels of theil
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 OF
other inhabitants of the country where they
reside, and even all contracts between the
latter, provided they relate to property stu
ated or to business to be transacted in the
territory of the nation to which said con
s,lar Office may belong. Copies of such pa