Office of the Historian

Mr. Uhl to Mr. Baker.

Department of State,
Washington, February 24, 1894.
No. 126.]

Sir: I have received your No. 199, of 22d ultimo, relative to the application made to you by Captain T. W. Tucker, commander of the Victoria, on Lake Nicaragua, to perform a marriage ceremony.

This Department is not competent to authorize you to perform the marriage ceremony, even where both the parties are citizens of the United States. It is essential that marriages of American citizens abroad shall be performed according to the laws of the country where the marriage takes place. In this connection you may consult the circular of February 8, 1887. (F. R., 1887, p. 1133.)

I am, etc.,

Edwin F. Uhl,
Acting Secretary.