The Italian Chargé to the Secretary of State.
Manchester, Mass., July 24, 1906.
Mr. Secretary of State: In reply to your letter of the 14th instant, I hasten to inform you that a marriage solemnized in America between an Italian subject and an American citizen is absolutely valid in Italy, provided the “forms” required by the lex loci have been complied with and the provisions of articles 25 to 69 of the Italian civil code have not been infringed (those articles determine the personal capacity of the parties to the marriage). The Italian subject must, within the three following months, cause the certificate of marriage to be recorded in the register of births, deaths, and marriages of the township in the Kingdom where he usually resides. The certificate must be authenticated by the proper Italian consular authorities.
The laws of Italy make no distinction between the noblemen and the common people; the right of entail has been abolished and nobiliary titles confer no privilege, not even that of precedure, at court or at any public function. For the same reason, all the children hold equal rights to the father’s estate.
Titles of nobility are nevertheless still recognized, and the non-noble woman who marries a nobleman has the right to bear her husband’s title.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,