'File 8/65 VIII RENEWAL of COMMERCIAL TREATY.' [‎52r] (103/248)

laj^wn by such court, agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. or person with regard to furnishing reason-
t ie evidence of the receipt of the money or property by the national to whom
is to be transmitted and with regard to returning the money or property
in the event that he is unable to furnish such evidence.
Article 20
Money or other property may be paid, delivered or transferred to a
consular officer pursuant to the provisions of Articles 18 and 19 only to the
extent that, and subject to the conditions under which, payment, delivery or
transfer to the person whom the consular officer represents or on whose
behalf he receives the money or property would be permitted under the laws
and regulations of the receiving state. The consular officer shall acquire no
greater rights in respect of any such money or other property than the person
whom he represents or on whose behalf he receives the money or property
would have acquired if the money or property had been paid, delivered or
transferred to such person directly.
PART VIII.—SHIPPING
Article 21
(1) When a vessel of the sending state visits a port (which includes any
place to which a vessel may come) in the receiving state, the master and the
members of the crew of the vessel shall be permitted to communicate with the
consular officer in whose district the port is situated and the consular officer
shall be permitted freely to perform the duties enumerated in Article 22 with
out interference on the part of the authorities of the territory. For the purpose
of performing any of these duties, the consular officer, accompanied, if he
desires, by consular employees on his staff, may proceed personally on board
the vessel after she has received pratique. In connection with these duties the
master and appropriate members of the crew may proceed to the consular
office in the consular district within which the vessel lies, unless the receiving
state shall, on its own initiative, object in cases involving unreasonable time
or distance of travel.
(2) The consular officer may invoke the assistance of the authorities of
the territory in any matter pertaining to the performance of these duties, and
they shall give the requisite assistance unless they have special reasons which
would fully warrant refusing it in a particular case.
Article 22
(1) The consular officer may question the master and members of the
crew, examine the vessel’s papers, take statements with regard to the vessel’s
voyage and her destination and generally facilitate the entry and departure of
the vessel. When Custom House brokers or shipping agents are available,
the consular officer shall not undertake work normally within the scope of
their activities.
(2) The consular officer or a consular employee may appear with the
master or members of the crew before the local authorities and courts, may
lend his assistance (including, where necessary, arranging for legal aid) and
may act as interpreter in matters between them and these authorities. These
rights may be withheld only in cases where questions of national security
are involved.
(3) The consular officer may, provided the judicial authorities of the terri
tory do not take jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of Article 23,
decide disputes between the master and members of the crew, including disputes
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