Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 18 Part 2c.djvu/72

 BELGIUM, 1868. 65 Anrrcus X1. Consuls General, Consuls, Vice—Consuls, and Consular Agents shall S<>i*l<>¤¤¤¤¢ ¤*' have exclusive charge of the internal order of the merchant vessels of °““*‘““'“ 1’°""°‘"‘ their nation, and shall alone take cognizanee of diiicrenees which mav magma and °r°w°' arise, either at sea or in port, between the captains, officers, and crews, without: exception, particularly in reference to the adjustment of wages and the execution of contracts. Neither the federal, State, or municipal authorities or courts in the United States, nor any court or authority in Belgium shall, on any pretext, interfere in these diiiercnces. Anrrcrn XII. The respective (Jonsnls General, Consuls, Vice·Consuls, and Consular Desei-ters from Agents may arrest the officers, sailors, and all other persons making part "°°*°l°· of the crew of ships of war or merchant vessels of their nation who may be guilty, or be accused of having deserted said ships and vessels, for the purpose of sending them on board or back to their country. To that end the consuls of the United States in Belgium may apply to any of the competent authorities; and the consuls of Belgium in the United States may apply in writing to either the federal, State, or municipal courts or authorities, and make at request in writing for the deserters, supporting it by the exhibition of the register of the vessel and list of the crew, or by other official documents, to show that the persons claimed belong to the said crew. Upon such request alone, thus supported, and without the exactiou of any oath from the consular officers, the deserters, not being citizens of the country 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 deserters, who shall even be put and kept in the prisons of the country, at the request and expense of the consular officers, until there may be an opportunity for sending them away. If, however, such an opportunity should not present itself within the space of three months, counting from the day of the arrest, the deserter shall be set at liberty, nor shall he be again arrested for the same cause. Amuonn XIII. In the absence of an agreement to the contrary between the owners, settlement of freighters, and insurers, all damages suffered at sea by the vessels of <l;,¤¤¤¤g¤¤ ¤¤¤’¤¢¤d the two countries, whether they enter port voluntarily or are forced by “ “°"‘ stress of weather, shall be settled by the Consuls General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents of the respective countries where they reside. If, however, any inhabitant of the country or citizen or subject of a third power shall be interested in the matter, and the parties cannot agree, the competent local authorities shall decide. Anrrorm XIV. All proceedings relative to the salvage of American vessels wrecked Salvage. upon the coasts of Belgium, and of Belgian vessels wrecked upon the coasts of the United States, shall be directed by Consuls General, Consuls, and Vice-Consuls of the two countries, respectively, and, until their arrival, by the respective Consular Agents, wherever an agency exists. In the places and ports where an agency does not exist, the local authorities, until the arrival of the Consul in whose_d1str1et the wreck may have occurred, and who shall immediately be informed ot_ the occurrence, shall take all necessary measures for the protection ot persons and the preservation of property. The local authorities shall not otherwise interfere than for the maintenance of order, the protection ot the interests of the salvors, if they do not belong to the crews that have is s rv--5