---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 4205"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "4205"
heading: "Retention of papers of American vessels until payment of demands and wages"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/4205"
units:
  - "Chapter 52 — Foreign Service"
  - "Subchapter XIV — Powers, Duties and Liabilities of Consular Officers Generally"
---

# §4205. Retention of papers of American vessels until payment of demands and wages


All consular officers are authorized and required to retain in their possession all the papers of vessels of the United States, which shall be deposited with them as directed by law, till payment shall be made of all demands and wages on account of such vessels.


## Source credit

(R.S. § 1718.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

R.S. § 1718 derived from act Aug. 18, 1856, ch. 127, § 28, 11 Stat. 63.

Section was not enacted as part of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 which comprises this chapter.

Section was formerly classified to section 1185 of this title, and prior thereto to section 88 of this title.