2648 Consnlar exemption from arrest. TREATY-LATVIA . ApRIL 20, 1928. ARTICLE XVIII. Consular officers, nationals of the State by which they are ap- pointed, shall be exempt from arrest except when charged with the commission of offenses locally desi~ated as crimes other than mis- demeanors and subjecting the indIvidual guilty thereof to punish- ment. Such officers shall be exempt from military billetings, and from service of any military or naval, administrative or police char- acter whatsoever. Testimony in cr\m- In criminal cases the a.ttendance at the trial by a consular officer Ina! CS3eS. as a witness may be demanded by the prosecution or defense. 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. Jurisdiction of courts Consular officers shall be subject to .the jurisd,iction of the courts in civil cases. in the State which receives them in civil cases, subject to the proviso, however: that when the officer is a national of the State which ap- points hIm and is engaged in no private occupation for gain, his tes- timony shall be taken orally or In w~iting at his residence or office and with due regard for hIS convenience. The officer should, how- ever, voluntarily give his testimony at the trial whenever it is possible to do so without serious interference with his official duties. ARTICLE XIX. Personal property Consular officers, including employees in a consulate, nationals of ~~i.";,:~~ 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, Pro- vincial and Municipal, levied upon their persons or upon their prop- erty, except taxes levied on account of the possession 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. All consular officers and employees, nationals of the State appointing them shall be exempt from the payment of taxes on the salary, fees or wages received by them in compensation for their consular services. Exe'fPt~ ff real Lands and buildings situated in the territories of either High Con-
- nial pur~ov- tracting Party, of which the other High Contracting Party is the
legal or equitable owner and which are used exclusively for govern- mental purposes by that owner, shall be exem'pt from taxation of every kind, National, State, Provincial and Mumcipal, other than assess- ments levied for services or local public improvements by which the premises are benefited. Arms and flags consulates. lnvlolablHty of 11088 and arcbl ves. ARTICLE XX. at Consular officers may place over the outer door of their respective offices the arms of their State with an appropriate inscription desig- nating the official office. Such officers may also hoist the flag of theIr country on their offices including those situated in the capitals of the two countries. They may likewise hoist such flag over any boat or vessel employed in the exercise of the consular function. of- The consular offices and archives shall at all times be inviolable. They shall under no circumstances be subjected to invasion by any authorities of any character within the country where such offices are located. Nor shall the authorities under any pretext make any examination or seizure of papers or other property deposited within a consular office. Consular offices shall not be used as places of asylum. No consular officer shall be required to produce official archives in court or testify as to their contents.
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