§ MR. H. S. NORTHCOTEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If his attention has been called to the numerous cases in which marriages have been solemnised in England between Englishwomen and Frenchmen in accordance with the provisions of British Law only, which marriages have, subsequently, been held to be invalid in France; whether his attention has been called to the great hardships which have thereby been inflicted on innocent persons; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will forthwith take steps to remedy this evil by legislation; or, if not, if they will issue a circular notice to all registrars and ministers of religion authorised to perform the marriage ceremony inviting them to call the attention of British subjects presenting themselves to be married to the provisions of the French Law, and to the fact that, to insure a valid marriage, these provisions must be strictly complied with?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTThe attention of Her Majesty's Government for some time past has been directed to the matters referred to in the hon. Member's Question, and various communications have passed between the British and French Governments on the subject. There is reason to hope that measures will shortly be adopted which will practically obviate the danger of marriages contracted in this country between Englishwomen and Frenchmen being held invalid in France by reason of non-compliance with the formalities required by the laws of that country.