Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, For the Year 1887, Transmitted to Congress, With a Message of the President, June 26, 1888

No. 664.
Mr. Bayard to Mr. Winchester.

Department of State,
Washington, March 1, 1887.

No. 78.]

Sir: Your dispatch No. 97, of the 4th ultimo, in regard to the marriage of American citizens in Switzerland, has been received.

The questions you ask are answered by the Department circular of the 8th ultimo, as to marriage certificates by consuls. The obstacles which the rules of the Department may put in the way of marriages by American citizens in Switzerland may be regretted; but immeasurably more disastrous would it be to countenance the issuing of certificates which might lead to the solemnization of marriages by Swiss officials which might afterwards be declared invalid by the court having jurisdiction.

I am, etc.,

T. F. Bayard.