New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-14
OF ICI L.
TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION by the President of
f1,o Tyv,tnI S+a<ac

| ipOtentiaries, ut Brussels, on the fifth day OF
December. eighteen hundred and sixty
eight which convention, being in the
English and French languages, is word fol
word rs follows:
The President of the United States OF
America and his Majesty the King of the
Beigians, recognizing the utility of defining
| the rights, privileges and i,nmunitieS of con
st,iar officers III the two countries. deem ii
| expedient to conclude a 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
| pAwers, found to be in good and proper
| totm. have agreed upon the following arti-
! cles:
Each of the high contracting parties
agrees to receive from the other, consuls-
general, consols, vice-consuls and consular
agents. III all its ports. cities and places, ex-
ceDt 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 ~.
Consular officers, on the presentation of
their commissions in the forms established
IN their respective countries, shall be fur
nlshed with the necessary eeGuatur free
OF charge, and on the exhibition OF this in
strunent, they shall be permitted to enjoy
the rights, prarogativeS. and lmmullitics
ARTICLE III.
Consular officers. citizens of the State by
which they are appointed. shall be exempt
from arrest except in the case of offenscs
which the local legislation Qualities as
crimes, and Furnishes it rs such: from mill
tary bllletings, 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 a 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
courts OF the country where he may reside.
w hen 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
It shall be the duty of said consular Off
Ger to comply with this request, without any
delay which can be avoided.
In all criminal eases, contemplated by the
sixth article of the amendments to the con
stItutlon OF the United States, whereby the
right Is secured to persons charged with
crimes to obtain witnesses in their favor
the appearance III 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 he extended to United States con-
suls i'll Belgium. in the like cases.
ARTICLE y.
Consuis-ganeral. consuls vice consuls, |
and consular agents may place over the
Outer door of their offices, OF their dwelling |
in inscription. consulate. Or vice-consulate. |
Dr consular agency" OF the United States, |
Dr. OF Belgium. etc. And they NAV also |
'a'se The flag OF their country on their Offices
II dwelling houses. except in the capital of |
the country, when there is a legation there
ARTICLE VI.
The consular offices and dwellings shall |
,c ut ali times inVi0iabe. The LEGAL au-
horitics shall not, under any pretext
invade them. In no case shall they examine
" seize the papers there deposited. In no
'ase shall those offices or dwellings be used
Is places OF asylum. When, however a
consular officer Is engaged in other business,
he papers relating to the consulate shall be
.ept separate.
ARTICLE VIZ.
In - the event OF the death, incapa-
lty, or absence OF con suls-general,
onsuls, vice-consrlls. and consular
gents, their chandeliers or secre-
aries, whose official character NAV
ave previously been made known to the
department OF State at Washington Or to
he minister for foreign affairs III Belgium.
Jay temporarily exercise their functions.
nd While thus acting obey shall enjoy all
ne rights, pierogariyes and inimunities
fanted to the lnculnbents.
ARTICLE WIZ.
Consuls-generai and cons is NAV, with the
pprobation of their respective govern
rents appoint vice-conslii, and consular
gents III the cities, ports and places within
leir consular jurisdiction. These oaicers'i
Jay, be citizens OF the United States, Of
elgium, or other foreigners. TLev shall be
FINISHED with a commission By the consui
no appoints them and under whose orders
ley are to act They shall enjoy thu pl;yi-
gees stipulated for liar officers in this |
invention, subject to the exceptions
1ecitied IN Articles III and ".
ARTICLE TX
Consuis-general, consuls, vicecons,.ls. and
,nsuIar agents. may complain to the ali
lorities OF the respective countries, whether
dcral or local. judicial OF local, judicial or
lecutive, within thci- consular district. OF
~ intlaction Of the treaties and conyen- {
Ons between the United States and Belgium {
; for the purpose Of protecting the rights
I'd interests Of their co:ntryMas. Il the
'mplaint should not be satisfactorily Ie-
.rssed, the consular officers aforesaid, in |
e absence OF a diplomatic agent of their t
untIy. may apply directly TO the govern +
ent OF the country where they reside. {
ARTICLE X.
Consuls-gcneral. consuls, vice-oons'lls, and
uSuiar agents may take a. their ctfices at {
e residence of the parties, at their private Z
sidence, or Oh board ship, the deposit ions S
the captains and crews o. vessels Of their a
VII country, CT Passengers on boari OF 7
EN-, ana OF any other citizen Of their ma |
On; They may also receive as their offices. I
informally to the laws and regulations of o
c'i county,. all contracts between the cit t
ems OF their country and the citizens or a
nef III AaDitant1 OF the country where they I
sac, ana even ali CONTRACT, between the
ger, provided they relate To property stu
ed OF to business to be transacted in the >,
IllIosy OF the nation to which said con- I
uar once may belong. Copies Of such pa :
~, n4, s'iu onlciai documents Of every kind g
neither IN the original COPIES or translation $
NY authenticated anu le.aIized l,y tie con I
u s-general, consuls, vice oonst,ls. ana con II
Jar agents. and sealed with their Official "
al, shall be received as legal documents in )
urts OF justice throughout tee United a
ates and Belgium. -'00 Il
ARTICLE YI. u
C0nSutS- general. coISuj= VIA oo,S,J- 81 |