dition is demanded, at the time of their being inscribed on the crew-list or of their arrival in port. The deserters so arrested shall be detained 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 deserters shall be set at liberty, nor shall they be again arrested for the same

cause.

If the deserter had committed any misdemeanour, and the Court having the right to take cognizance of the offence shall claim and exercise it, the delivery of the deserter shall be deferred until the decision of the Court has been pronounced and executed.

XIII. In the absence of an agreement to the contrary between the owners, freighters, and insurers, all damages suffered at sea by the vessels of the two countries, whether they enter port voluntarily or are forced by stress of weather, shall be settled by the ConsulsGeneral, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents of the respective countries.

If, however, the Consular officer has any interest in the ship or its cargo, or if he is an agent thereof, and if any inhabitant of the country or subject or citizen of a third Power shall be interested in the matter, and the

et que les parties ne pussent s'entendre à l'amiable, le recours à l'autorité locale compétente serait de droit.

XIV. En cas de décès d'un Belge au Japon ou d'un Japonais en Belgique, les autorités locales compétentes doivent immédiatement en donner avis au ConsulGénéral, Consul, Vice-Consul, ou Agent Consulaire le plus rapproché de la nation à laquelle le défunt appartient; ceux-ci, de leur côté, devront donner le même avis aux autorités locales lorsqu'ils en seront informés les premiers.

L'autorité locale compétente complétera le dit avis par la remise d'une expédition en due forme et sans frais de l'acte de décès.

En cas d'incapacité ou d'absence des héritiers ou d'absence des exécuteurs testamentaires, les Agents du Service Consulaire, concurremment avec l'autorité locale compétente, auront le droit, conformément aux lois de leurs pays respectifs, de faire tous actes nécessaires à la conservation et à l'administration de la succession, notamment d'apposer et de lever les scellés, de former l'inventaire, d'administrer et de liquider la succession, en un mot de prendre toutes les mesures nécessaires à la sauvegarde des intérêts des héritiers, sauf le cas où naîtraient des contestations, lesquelles devraient être décidées par les Tribunaux compétents du pays où la succession est ouverte.

parties cannot agree, the competent local authorities shall decide.

XIV. In case of the death of any subject of Belgium in Japan or of a subject of Japan in Belgium, the competent local authorities shall give immediate information of the event to the nearest Consul-General, Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent of the nation to which the deceased belongs; the said Consular officers, on their part, shall give the same information to the local authorities when they shall be informed first of the event.

The competent local authority shall complete the aforesaid information by forwarding a copy, in due form and free of charge, of the certificate of death. In case of the incapacity or absence of the heirs or in case of absence of testamentary executors, Consular officers shall have the right, jointly with the competent local authorities, to execute all deeds necessary for the preservation and administration of the succession, particularly to affix and to remove the seals, to make up the inventory, to administer and wind up the succession, in one word to take all necessary measures to safeguard the interests of the heirs, except in case disputes should arise, which should be decided by the competent Courts of the country where the succession is open.

XV. La présente Convention entrera en vigueur en même temps que le Traité de Commerce et de Navigation conclu le 22 Juin, 1896,* entre les deux Hautes Parties Contractantes.

Elle restera en vigueur pendant une période de douze ans à partir de sa mise à exécution.

Dans le cas où aucune des deux Hautes Parties Contractantes n'aurait notifié douze mois avant la fin de la dite période son intention d'en faire cesser les effets, la Convention demeurera obligatoire jusqu'à l'expiration d'une année à partir du jour où l'une ou l'autre des Hautes Parties Contractantes l'aura dénoncée.

XVI. La présente Convention sera ratifiée, et les ratifications en seront échangées à Bruxelles aussitôt que possible, et pas plus de six mois après sa signature.

En foi de quoi les Plénipotentiaires l'out signée et y ont apposé leurs cachets.

Fait à Bruxelles, en double original, le 22 Décembre, 1896.

(L.S.) P. DE FAVEREAU. (L.S.) VICOMTE AOKI.

XV. The present Convention shall enter into force on the same date as the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation concluded the 22nd day of June, 1896,* between the two High Contracting Parties.

It shall continue in force for the space of twelve years computed from the day of its being put into execution.

In case neither of the High Contracting Parties gives notice twelve months before the expiration of the said period of its intention to determine the effects of this Convention, the same shall remain in force until the expiration of a year counting from the day on which one of the High Contracting Parties shall have denounced it.

XVI. The present Convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications thereof exchanged at Brussels as soon as possible, and not later than six months after its signature.

In faith whereof the Plenipotentiaries have hereunto set their hands and seals.

Done at Brussels, in duplicate, the 22nd December, 1896.

(L.S.) P. DE FAVEREAU. (L.S.) VISCOUNT AOKI.