Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 54 Part 2.djvu/532

 favored nation. As official agents, such officers shall be entitled to the high consideration of all officials, national or local, with whom they have official intercourse in the State which receives them. Exequatunretc. The Government of each of the High Contracting Parties shall furnish free of charge the necessary exequatur of such consular offi- cers of the other as present a regular commission signed by the chief executive of the appointing State and under its great seal; and they shall issue to a subordinate or substitute consular officer duly ap- pointed by an accepted superior consular officer with the approba- tion of his Government, or by any other competent officer of that Government, such documents as according to the laws of the re- spective countries shall be requisite for the exercise by the appointee of the consular function. On the exhibition of an exequatur, or other document issued in lieu thereof to such subordinate, such con- sular officer shall be permitted to enter upon his duties and to enjoy the rights, privileges and immunities granted by this Convention. ARTICLE II Exemption from ar- rest; exception. Military biffetings and service. Testimony in crim- inal cases. Civl cases. Testimony regard- ing official acts not re- quired. Exemption from taxes; exception. Consular officers, nationals of the State by which they are ap- pointed, and not engaged in any profession, business or trade, shall be exempt from arrest except when charged with the commission of offenses locally designated as crimes other than misdemeanors and subjecting the individual guilty thereof to punishment. Such officers shall be exempt from military billetings, and from service of any military or naval, administrative or police character whatsoever. In criminal cases the attendance at court by a consular officer as a witness may be demanded by the prosecution or defense, or by the court. The demand shall be made with all possible regard for the consular dignity and the duties of the office; and there shall be compliance on the part of the consular officer. When the testimony of a consular officer who is a national of the State which appoints him and is engaged in no private occupation for gain is taken in civil cases, it shall be taken orally or in writing at his residence or office and with due regard for his convenience. The officer should, however, voluntarily give his testimony at the trial whenever it is possible to do so without serious interference with his official duties. No consular officer shall be required to testify in either criminal or civil cases regarding acts performed by him in his official capacity. ARTICLE III Consular officers, including employees in a consulate, nationals of the State by which they are appointed, other than those engaged in private occupations for gain within the State where they exercise their functions, shall be exempt from all taxes, National, State, Provincial and Municipal, except taxes levied on account of the pos- session or ownership of immovable property situated in, or income derived from property of any kind situated or belonging within the territories of the State within which they exercise their functions. TREATIES [54 STAT.

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