Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 18 Part 2c.djvu/264

 GERMAN EMPIRE, 1871. 257 Anrrcmz VIII. Oensuls_General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents shall App1i¤¤·¤i¤¤¤ w have the right to apply to the authorities of the respective countries 1°°°l 9i “°°i°““1 whether Federal or local, judicial or executive, within the extent of “°°h°"°‘°"• their consular district, for the redress of any infraction of the treaties and conventions existing between the two countries, or of international law; to ask information of said authorities, and to address said authorities to the_end of protecting the rights and interests of their country- men, especially in cases of the absence of the latter; in which cases such Consuls, etc., shall be presumed to be their` legal representatives. lf' due notice should not be taken of such application, the consular officers aforesaid, in the absence of a diplomatic agent of their country,dmay apply directly to the Government of the country where they resi e. Anrrcma IX. Consuls General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, or Consular Agents of the two countries, or their chancellors, shall have the right, conformably to the laws and regulations of their country— 1. To take at their office or dwelling, at the residence of the parties, my take deputor on board of vessels of their own nation, the depositions of'_ the cap- ti¤¤¤. Gwtains and crews, of passengers on board of them, of merchants, or of any other citizens of their own country. 2. To receive and verity unilateral acts, wills, and bequests of their May verify wm., countrymeuyand any and all acts of agreement entered upon between bc. citizens of their own country, and between such citizens and the citi- [Sw ¤¤>¤<>¤¤1. P- zens or other inhabitants of the country where they reside; and also 260-] all contracts between the latter, provided they relate to property situated or to business to be transacted in the territory of the nation by which the said consular officers are appointed. All such acts of agreement and other instruments, and also copies Authenticated and translations thereof, when duly authenticated by such Consul Gen- ¤°P*°¤ *0 b° °'l· eral, Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent, under his ofhcial seal, d°“°°‘ shall be received by public officials, and in courts of justice as legal documents, or as authenticated copies, as the case may be, and shall have the same force and effect as if drawn up or authenticated by competent public officers of one or the other of the two countries. Anrrcrmz X. In case of the death of any citizen of Germany in the United States, Residents dying or of any citizen of the United States, in the German Empire, without i¤•=¤¤¢¤¤¤· having in the country of his decease any known heirs ortestauientary [Seo protocol. p- executors by him appointed, the competent local authorities shall at 260-) once inform the nearest consular officer of the nation to which the deceased belongs of the circumstance, in order that the necessary information may be immediately forwarded to parties interested. The said consular officer shall have the right to appear personally or by delegate in all proceedings on behalf of the absent heirs or creditors, until they are duly represented. _ .ln all successions to inheritances, citizens of each of the contracting Succession duties. parties shall pay in the country of the other such duties only as they would beliable to pay, if they were citizens of the country in which the property is situated or the judicial administration of the same may be exercised. Aarrcm XI. Consuls General, Consuls, Vice—Consuls, and Consular Agents of the Errects or detwo countries are exclusively charged with the inventorying and the ¤¤=•·¤°d ¤¤ll°1“¤ °f Safekeeping of goods and effects of every kind left by sailors or passen- P"“‘°"g°'“‘ gers on ships of their nation who die, either on board ship or on land, during the voyage or in the port of destination. n s rv-—-17