The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-08-05

graph within six years. from the same date.
Approved. May 4, 1870.
By tia Prssifsst Of the Unifed STATES Of America.
l A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS convention defining the rights, Inn
munities and privileges OF consuls, between the
United States Of America and his Majesty the King
OF the Belgians was concluded and signed by their
respectives plenipotentiaries, at Brussels, on the
hrh day OF December, eighteen hundred and sixty.
eight, which convention being In the English and
French languages, word Is for word M followsi
The President OF the United States Of America
and his Majesty the King Of the Belgians, Iecog'
MIXING the utility Of defining the rights privileges
and nmunitles OF consular officers In the two coun-
tries deem itexpedient TO conclude consular con-
Accordingly they have named, The President
OF the United States OF America, Henry shelton
Sanford, citizen OF the United States their minis
ter resident near his Majesty the King OF the Bel
gians, and his MAJESTY the King OF the Belgians,
the seur Jules Wander Sticbelen, grand cross or
the order OF the Dutch Lion &c., &C., &c his min
lister Of foreign affairs; who. after having commu
nicated 10 each other their full powers, found TO
be IN good and proper FORM, have agreed upon the
following articles.
i ARTICLE I.
Each Of the high contracting parties agrees 10
10 receive from the other, conculseneral consuls,
yceconsuls, and consular agents, In all Its ports,
cities and places except ,ngse wnsrs h. noa No
tion, however, shall not apply 10 one Of the high
contracting parties without applying to every 9TH
or power.
i Consular officers, on the presentation Of their
| commissions In the forms established In their re-
spcctive countries, shall he furnished with the nec
essary exequatur free Of charge, and on the exhi,
btlon OF this instrument, they shall be permitted
TO enjoy the rights, prerogatives, and immunities
| granted by this convention.
ARTICLE Ill.
Consular officers, citizens Of the States by which
except in the case Of oenses which the local leg
islatlon qualities as crimes, and Furnishes u as such
ffom military bet-gs, from service In the militia
or national guard, or In the regular army, and nom
all taxation, federal, State, or municipal. III, how
ever, they are citizens Of the State where they re-
side, own property, 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 w.
| No consular officer who Is citizen OF the State
by which he was appointed, and who Is not engag-
ell In business, shall be compelled to appear as n
witness before the courts OF the country where he
may reside. when the testimony Of such q consul
lar officer Is needed, no shall be invited In writing
to appear in court IL unable 10 do his testimony
shall be requested IN writing or be taken orally,
II shall be the duty OF said consular officer to COM
ply with this request, without any delay which can
In all criminal cases, contemplated by the sixth
article OF the amendments 10 the Constitution OF the
United States, whereby the right Is secured TO per-
sons charged with crimes TO obtain W theses In
Othcer shall DO demanded, with all possible regard
to the consular dignity and ~ the duties OF his Of
fee. A similar treatment shall also DO extended TO
United States consuls in Belgium, in the like
ARTICLE V.
Cousuls-general. Consuls yice-consuls, and con-
suar agents may place over the outer door Of their
offices, or their dwelng.houses, the arms OF their
nation, with this inscription, consulate, or vice.
/ consulate, or consulate agency" or the United
States, or OF Belgium, &C., &c. And that they may
also raise the Dag OF their country on their Offices
dwellnghOuses, except In the capital or the coun-
try, when there is a legation there.
ARTICLE vi.
Tho consular Offices and dwellings shall be at all
times ibyiolable. The local authorities shall not,
under any pretext, invade them. In no case shall
In no shall those Offices or dwellings be used
places OF ASYLUM. When, however. consular ON.
to tho consulate shall be kept separate.
ARTICLE VII.
In the event Of the death, incapaeity, or absence
OF cOnsuls-geneTa consuls, yice-consuls, and con-
sular agents their chaneellOrs secretaries, whose
6s at
10 the minister foreign affairs In Belgium, may
temporarily exercise their functions and while thus
s sS,1s 1nss ns rrs sS t the
ARTICLE VIII
Consuls-general and consuls may. with the appro-
baton of their respective governments, appoint
yceconsuls, and consular agents In the cities ports
and places within their consular jurisdiction. These
officers may be citizens OF the United States Of Bel
GUM, or other foreigners. They shall be furnished
with a commission by the consul who appoints them
and under whose orders they are to act They shall
enjoy the privileges stipulated for consular officers
in this convention subject to the exceptions specified
In Articles Ill and Nv.
ARTICLES TX.
Consuls-general, consuls, vice-consuls and consu.
lar agents, may complain to the authOritts OF the
respective countries whether federal local. judc
al OF local judicial executive, within their con-
sular district OF any inifaeton OF the treaties and
conventions between the United states anu Belgium
terests OF their country-men. III the complaint
should not be satisfactorily redressed, the consular
officers aforesaid, in the absence Of diplomats
agent OF their country, may apply directlyto the
government OF the country where they reside.
ARTICLE X.
Consuls- general consuls, yice-consuls and consul
lar agents may take at their offices, at the residence
OF the parties, at their private residence, or on
board ship, me dePSs.ons OF mS captains n anu
gers on board Of them, and Of any other citizen OF
their nation. They may also receive Mt their Offices,
cOnfOrmably to the laws and regulations OF their
country all contracts between the citizens Of their
country and the citizens other inhabitants Of the
country where there they reside, and even all con-
property situated or 10 business TO be transacted In
the territory Of the nation 10 which said consular
officer may belong. Copies OF such papers and OIL
cal documents OF every Kind, whether In the orig,
| nal, copies or translation duly authenticated and
legalHed by the cOnsuls-general, consus, yicecon-
suls and consular agents, and sealed with their Of
fetal seal, shall be received rs legal documents In
courts Of justice throughout the United States and
Belgium.
Consuls-general. consuls, yce-consuls, and con- |
sular agents shall have exclusive charge OF the in
ternal order OF the merchant vessels Of their nation
and shall alone take cogniIance Of differences |
which may arise, either at sea or In port, between
particularly in reference TO the adjustment OF
wages and the execution Of contracts Neither the |
federal state, municipal authorities courts In
belgium shall, on any pretext, interfere in these
differences. |
ARTICLE XII
The respective consuls-general, consuls, vce-con-
suls, and consular agents may arrest the officers,
sailors, and all other persons making part Of the
crew OF ships OF war merchant vessels OF their
nation who may be guilty, or be accused, OF having
deserted said ships and vessels for the purpose Of
To that end. the eonsals Of the United states In
| Belgium may apply TO any Of the competent au.
thortlcs and the consuls o. Belgium in the United
States may apply In writing to either the federal,
a request In writing for tho deserters supporting u
by the exhibition Of the register Of the vessel and
list Of the crew, or by other official documents 70
show that the persons claimed belong to the said
crew.
Upon such request alone. thus supported, and
without the exactlon OF any oath nom The consular
officers the deserter. not being citizens OF the
try where the demand Is made at the time Of their
shipping, shall be given up. All the necessary aid
and protection shall be Furnished for the search,
pursuit, seizure, and arrest Of the descrters, who
shall even be pnt and kept In the prisons Of the /
country at the request and expense OF the consular
officers until there may be opportunity for send
Ing them away. II, however, such an opportunity
should not present itself within the space OF three
months counting nom the day OF the arrest, the
deserter shall be- set at liberty, nor shall no be
again arrested for the same cause.
ARTICLE XIII.
In the absence OF an agreement to the contrary
hotMcen the OMneIs ffelghters. and insurers. All