New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-21
o FIJI CT A l..
rREAr1rs AND coNvEnr1oNs
OF THE 4
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PR PROCLAMATION by the President Of

the United States.
WHEREAS convention defining the rights.
imm unities and privileges of cOnsuls, be-
twedn the United States of America and his
Majesty the King of the Belgians, was con
clud ed and signed by their respective plen-
ipot{ ntiaries, at Brussels, on the fifth day Of
Dec mber. eighteen hundred and sixty
eight, which convention, being in the
English and French languages, is word for
word az follows:
The President of the United States of
Anne RIGA and his Majesty the King of the
Belgians, recognizing the utility of defining
the lights. privileges and mmunities of con-
sulai officers in the two countries, deem it
exp4dient to conclude consular convention
for that purpose.
Accordingly they have named: The Pres
idenE 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
Sieuf Jules Wander Stichelcn, grand cross of
the Order of the Dutch Lion, etc, his min
lister of foreign affairs; who, after having
conn nunicated to each other their full
pow hrs, found to be in good and proper
form, have agreed upon the following arti-
cles3
ARTICLE I.
Each of the high contracting parties
agree IS to receive from the other. consuls-
gene ral, consels, vice-cOnSuls, and consular
agents. in all its ports, cities and places, eX-
cept those where it may not he convenient
to Recognize such officers. This reservation,
how yer, shall not apply to one of the high
contracting parties without also applying to
everF other power.
ARTICLE II.
CO nsular officers, on the presentation of
IL j IL
in their respective countries, shall be fur
nishdd with the necessary eXequatur free
of charge, and on the exhibition of this in
stru1 lent, they shall be permitted to enjoy
the rights, prerogativcs, and immunities
gran Ted by this convention.
ARTICLE III.
Col nsular officers, citizens of the State by
whic they are appointed; shall be exempt
from arrest except in the case of otfenses
whic III the local legislation qualities as
crimks, and Furnishes it as such; from mill
tary billetings, from service III the militia or
in tn national guard, or in the regular
army, and from all taxation, federal, State,
or nj unicipal. 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 u Merchants or owners of property.
ARTICLE ".
No consular officer who is a citizen of the
Statd by which he was appointed, and who
is not engaged in business, shall he COM
pellel to appear as 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
appel lr in court, and if unable to do so, his
testiI lony shall be requested in writing OF
no folk ly at n 1ivu off.
1t shall be the duty of said consular Off
Ger to comply with this request, without any
delay which can be avoided.
In Pill criminal cases, contemplated by the
sixth article of the amendments to the con-
stitut ion of the United States, whereby the
right Is secured to persons charged with
crimds to obtain witnesses in their favor,
the appearance in court of said consular
Otfice' shall be demanded, with all possible
rega1 d to the consular di gnity 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.
Col suls- general, consuls, vice consuls,
and consular agents may place over the
outer door of their offices, or their dwelling
hOusds, the arms of their nation, with this
inscription, consulate, or vice-c0nsulate,
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 i'll the capital Of
the country, when there is a legation there.
ARTICLE vi.
The consular offices and dwellings shall
be at all times inviolable Tie local au-
thoridies shall not, under any pretext,
invade them. In no case shall they examine
or seize the papers there deposited. In no
case shall those offices or dwellings be used
as plhces of asylum When, however, a
consul lar officer is engaged in other business
the papers relating ts the consulate shall be
kept separate.
ARTICLE VII.
In the event of the death, incapa-
city, OF absence of consuls-general,
cOnsuIts, vice-cOnsuls, and consular
agents, their chancellers or secye-
tariesI whose official character may
have previously been made known to the
Department of State at Washington or to
the mi mister for foreign affairs in Belgium,
may Temporarily exercise their functions.
and while thus acting they shall enjoy all
the rights, prerogatives and immulIities
granted to the incumbents.
ARTICLE VIII.
CoIsuls-general and cOnsuls may, with the
appreciation of their respective govern
mentd, appoint vice-consuls and consular
agentF 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 |
furnia he'd with commission by the consul |
who appoints them and under whose orders |
they are to act. They shall enjoy the privi- !
eges stipulated for consular officers in this |
conydntiOn, subject to the exceptions |
specifl led in Articles III and ~
ARTICLE TX.
Con suls- general, cOnsrls, vice-cOnsuls, and |
'cnsuF ar agents, may complain to the au- |
thorlt1 es OF the respective countries whether |
federd or local, Judicial or local, judicial or |
executive, within their consular district, of |
my III fraction of the treaties and conven- |
lions between the United States and Belgium
Or tor the purpose OF protecting the rights !
md M terests of their cOuntrymen. If the |
complaint should not be satisfactorily re-
lressfd, the consular officers aforesaid, in |
he al sence of a diplomatic agent of their
country, may apply directly to the govern
nent Pf the country where they reside.
ARTICLE X.
Con suls-general, cOnsuls, vice-consuls, and
'Onsu ar agents may take at their offices. at |
he residence OF the parties, at their private
eside| nee, or on board ship, the dispositions
If the captains and crews Of vessels of their
'wn country, of passengers on board of
hem, and OF any other citizen OF their ma
ion. They may also receive at their offices,
onfo4 mably to the laws and regulations of
heir 4Ountry, all contracts between the cit
zens of their country and the citizens or
ther Inhabitants Of the country where they
esideI and even all contracts between the
after, provided they relate to property stu
ted Or to business to be transacted in the
erritd Try of the nation to which said con-
ular office may belong. Copies of such pa
ers and official documents of every kind,
,hethEr in the original, copies or translation
uly a authenticated and legalized by the con-
,IS ord nara1 conSu1s vice conSIls and con |