970 CONVENTION—SERBIA-CONSULAR. Ooronnu 2-14, 1881. eign Affairs in Serbia, may temporarily exercise their functions, and while thus acting they shall enjoy all the rights, prerogatives and immunities granted to the incumbents. Anrrionu VIII. Vice-consuls and Consuls-general and consuls may, so far as the laws of their country ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤‘¤:4¢¤¢¤· allow, with the approbation of their respective governments, appoint vice-consuls and consular agents in the cities, ports and places within their consular jurisdiction. These agents may be selected from among citizens of the United States or of Serbia, or those of other countries. They shall be furnished with a regular commission, and shall enjoy the privileges stipulated for consular officers in this convention, subject to the exceptions specified in Articles 3 and 4. Anrrcrn IX. Rights of re- Consuls-general, consuls, vice-consuls and consular agents shall have °?‘¤'¤° *° *'**h°*‘l‘ the right to address the administrative and judicial authorities, whether t'°°‘ in the United States of the Union, the States or the municipalities, or in Serbia, of the State or the Commune, throughout the whole extent of their consular jurisdiction, in order to complain of any infraction of the treaties and conventions between the United States and Serbia, and for the purpose of protecting the rights and interests of their country- men. If the complaint should not be satisfactorily redressed, the consular officers aforesaid, in the absence of a diplomatic agent of their country, may apply directly to the government of the country where they exercise their functions.- . . Anrrcmc X. Powe; to take Consnls-general, consuls, vice-consuls and consular agents may take d•1¤>¤¤¤¤¤¤» vw- at their ohices, at their private residence, at the residence of the parties, or on board ship the depositions of the captains and crews of vessels of their own country, of passengers on board of them, and of any other citizen of their nation. They may also receive at their offices, conformably to the laws and regulations of their country, all contracts between the citizens of their country and the citizens or other inhabitants of the country where they reside, and even all contracts between the latter, provided they relate to property situated, or to business to be trans- _ acted, in the territory of the nation to which the said consular officer may belong. , Such papers and odicial documents of every kind, whether in the origina], in copies or in translation, duly authenticated and legalized by the consuls-general, consnls, vice-consuls and consular agents, and scaled with their official seal, shall be received as legal documents in courts of justice throughout the United States and Serbia. Anzrmnn XI. Dem: or citi- In the case of the death of any citizen of the United States in Serbia, “°'· or of a Serbian subject in the United States, without having any known heirs or testamentary executors by him appointed, the competent local authorities shall give infomation of the circumstance to the consuls or consular agents of the nation to which the deceased belongs, in order that the necessary information may be immediately forwarded to the parties interested. Consuls-general, consuls, vice-consuls and consular agents shall have the right to appear, personally or by delegate, in all proceedings on behalf of the absent or minor heirs or creditors until they are duly represented. _
