New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-06
OFFICIAL.
TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION by the President OF


WHEREAS convention defining the rights,
immunities and privileges of consuls, be-
tween the United States of America and his
Majesty the King Of the Belgians, was con
| cluded and signed by their respective plen-
ipOtentiaries. at Brussels. on the fifth day of
December. eighteen hundred and sixty
eight, which convention, being i'll the
English and French languages, Is word for
word as follows:
The President of the United States of
America and his Majesty the King of the
Belgians recognizing the utility Of defining
the rights. privileges and i1nmunities of CON
sular officers in the two countries. deem it
expedient to conclude L consular convention
for that purpose.
Accordingly they have named: The Pres
ident of .He 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 Stichclen. 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
powers. found 70 be n 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
cept those where it NAV not be convenient
to recognize such officers. This reservation.
however shall not apply to one OF the high
contracting parties without also applying -
every other power.
ARTICLE II.
Consular officers. on the presentation Of
- mi II ItlI he, Il
i'll 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 10 enjoy
the rights, prerogatives, and immunities
granted by this convention.
ARTICLE III.
Consular officers, citizens OF the State by
which they are appointed, shall he exempt
from arrest except in the case of otfenscs
which the local legislation qualities as
crimes. and Furnishes it as such from mill
tary bllletngS. from service in the militia or
in the national guard, or in the regular
army, and from all taXatisA, federal. State,
or municipal. II, however, they are citi-
Zens of the State wheIe they reside. or own
property. or engage III 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 u.
No consular officer who is a citizen OF the
State by which he was appointed. and VINO
is not engaged IN business. snail ue com
PEELED to appear as witness before the
courts OF the country whore he may reside.
When the testimony OF such consular officer
is needed. he shall be invited in writing 10
appear i'll court. and if unable 20 DO So. his
testimony shall be requested III writing. or
be taken orally. at his dwelling or office.
1t shall be the duty OF said consular oil
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 20 the con
stitution Of the United States. whereby tie
right is secured TO persons charged with
crimes to obtain witnesses IL their favor.
the appearance III court OF said consular
officer shall be demanded with all possible
regard to the consular dignity and 70 the
duties OF his office. \ similar treatment
shall also he extended I" United States CON
suls III Belgium, Ill the Ike cases.
ARTICLE V.
Consul--general. coneuls. vice coI>lIlS.
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 vicc-consulare.
IT consular agency OF the United States,
,r of Belgium. etc. And they may also
'aiSe the flag OF their country on their Offices
n dwelling houses. except III The capital OF
he country, when there Is a legation there. |
ARTICLE VI.
The consular offices and dwellings shall |
,e at all times inviolable. The local All
horities shall not. under any pretcXt.
invade them. IL no case shall they examine |
n seize the papers there deposited. IL 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 70 the consulate shall be |
lept separate.
ARTICLE VII.
In the event OF the death, incapa- |
ty. or absence OF consuls-.eneral. |
onsuls yice-consuls, and consular |
gents, their chancellcrs 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 in Belgium, |
nay temporarily exercise their functions, |
nd while thus acting they shall enjoy all |
he rights, prerogativcs and imMunities
ranted to the incumbents.
ARTICLE VIII.
Consuls-general and conslls NAV. with the |
pprobation Of their respective govern
lents. appoint vice-consuls and consular
gents i'll the cities. ports and places within !
heir consular jurisdiction. These officers
nay be citizens OF the United States. Of
Belgium, or other foreigners. They shall be
furnished with Il commission by the consul
;ho appoints them and under whose orders
hey are to act. They shall enjoy the privi-
lges stipulated for consular officers in this
convention, subject TO the exceptions
pecitied in Articles III and ".
aPTrCIF w
Consuls-general consuls, vice-consuIs. and
onsuiar agents, may complain 10 the all-
holities Of the respective countries. whether |
aderal or local, judicial or local, judicial or
Xecutive, within their consular district, OF |
ny infractiOn of the treaties and conven-
ions between the United States and Belgium
r for the purpose OF protecting the rights
nd interests OF their countrymcn. Ii the
Omplant should not be satisfactorily rc-
ressed, the consular officers aforesaid, in
ne absence of u diplomatic agent of their
ontry may apply directly to the govern
lent OF the country where they reside.
ARTICLE X.
COnSulS-general, consuls, vice-cOnsuls aad
onsular agents may take at their offices, at
ne residence of the parties, at their private
esidence, or on board ship. the dispositions
the captains and crews of vessels of their
VII country, of passengers ON board OF |
lem, and OF any other citizen of their ma
on. They may also receive at their offices,
informally to the laws and regulations of
leir country, all contracts between the cit
ems OF their country and the citizens or
Their IL itants of the country where they
side, 3even all contracts between the
liter, N1lded they relate to property stu
ted or to business to be transacted in the
rritory 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
lly authenticated and legalized by the con
lls-general, consuls, vice consuls, and con-
liar agents, and sealed with their official |