New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-15
OFFICI "A L..
TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION by the President OF
the United States.

tNttJ SlC S4iALFu oGtttS III AiiitIIch anu Ill
Majesty the King of the Belgians, was con
cluded and signed by their respective plen
lpotehtlarles, at Brussels, on the fifth day o
December. eighteen hundred and sixty
eight. which convention, being in tn,
English and French languages, is word fo
word as follows:
The President of the United States O
America and his Majesty the King of til.
Belglans, recognizing the utility of deiinin.
the rights. privileges and i,nmunities OF con
s'iiar officers III the two countries deem il
eHpedient TO conclude a consular convention
for that purpose.
Accordingly they have named: The Pres
ldent of the United States of America
Henry Shelton Sanford. Il citizen of the
United States, their minister resident neal
his Majesty the King OF the Bc!gians and
his Majesty the King Of the Belgians, the
Sieur jules Wander Stiehelen, grand cross OF
the Order Of the Dutch Lion, etc. his min
ister of foreign affairs who, after having
communicated to each other their full
powers. found to be i'll good and proper
form. have agreed upon the following arti
cIeS:
ARTICLE I.
Each of the high contracting parties
agrees to receive from the other, consuls-
general. cOnSelS viCe-conSi,lS. and consular
agents. in all It's ports, cities and places, eX-
cept those where It may no. be convenient
10 recognize such officers. This reservation
however, shah not apply to one OF the high
contracting parties without also applying 10
every other power.
ARTICLE II.
Consular officers, on the presentation of
their commissions in the forms established
in their respective countries. shall! be fur
nislad 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 iInmunities
granted by this convention.
ARTICLE III.
Consular officers, citiHns of the State by
which they are appointed, shall be exempt
from arrest except in the case of oifenses
which the local legislation qualities as
crimes, and Furnishes i. as such: from mill
tary billet!ngs. from service ii the militia or
i'll the national guard. or in the regular
army. and from ali taxation, federal. State,
or municipal. Ii, however. they are cti-
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 rs 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 lie 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. be shall be invited in writing 10
appear i'll court, and if unable 10 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 10 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 10 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 % United States CON
sulo III Belgium IL the Ike Cases.
ARTICLE Y.
ConsGls- general. conruis, vice consus.
ami 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 v!&c-consulate.
Or consular agency of the United States.
Or Of Belgium. etc. And they may also
raise the flag o. their country On their Offices
VI
the country, when there is Il legation there.
ARTICLE VI.
The consular Offices and dwellings shall
be at all fines inviolale The local au-
thO:itieS shall not, under any pretext,
invade them. IL no case shall they examine
Dr. seize the papers there deposited. In no
Ease sinai! those offices or dwellings be used
As places of asylum. When, however. a
consular officer i, cnga ged III other business.
-he papers relating to tle consulate shall be
kept separate.
ARTICLE VII
In the event of the death. incapa-
,onsl,ls, viceconsuls, and consular
agents. their chanceilcrs or secre-
aries, whose official character may
AVE previously been made known to the
Department of State at Washington. or to
he minister for foreign affairs in Belgium.
nay temporarily exercise their functions,
md while thus acting they shall enjoy all
he rights, preroga:ive, and iumunities
granted to the incumbents.
ARTICLE Wiz
Con iIls-gencrai and cons1ls may. with the |
pprobation OF their respective govern
nents, appoint vicc-con5uls and consular
gents III the cities. ports and places within
heir consular jurisdiction These officers |
nay pf N.tiT7HH VI ttif I Ultt'i StfitS. "a |
Belgium. or other foreigners. They shall be |
with a commission by the consul |
Who appoints them aud under whose orders |
hey are to act. They shall enjoy TIE priyi- |
eyes stipulated for consular officers in this |
invention, subject to the exceptions |
peoitied il Articles III and ".
ARTICLE TX.
Consuls- general, consuIs, yice-consuls. and |
onsular agents, may complain 20 the au-
horities Of the respective countries, whether
ederai or local, judicial or local, judicial or
Xecutiye, within their consular district Of |
ny infraction Of the treaties and conven-
ions between the United States and Belgium
= for the purpose Of protecting the rights
nd interests OF their eountrynrn. Ii the
pnplant should not be satisfactorily re-
reSSed, the consular officers aforesaid, in
le absence OF q diplomatic agent OF their
DuntIy, may apply directly 70 the govern
lent OF the country where they reside.
ARTICLE X.
CoGsulS-gcneTal, cOnSuiS, vicn-consslls. and |
Dnsular gents may take at their offices, at
Ic residence of the parties. at their private
,sidencc, or Oh board snip, the depositions
the captains and crews OF vessels Of their
WI country, Of passengers On board Of
icm. ana OF any other citizen Of their ma
on; They may also receive al their Offices.
10 the laws and regulations oi
leit country, all contracts between the eft
ems OF their country and the citizens or
ther inh" bitants Of the country where they
side, and even al contracts between the.
utter, provided they relate 10 property stu
tea or to business II be transacted in the
'IritorE Of the nation to which said con
liar Office may belong. Copies of such pa
ers and official documents of every kind.
neither in the original, copies or translation
uiy authenticated and legalized by the CON
lis-Senerai, cOnsuis, vice c0usi.ls. and con
liar agents and sealed with their official
al, Shall be received as legal documents il