§ 4. Mr. P. WHITEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, when a subject of the United Kingdom long resident in the United States dies leaving assets of considerable value and the next-of-kin in this country does not claim the amount until a period of fifteen years has elapsed, it becomes necessary that a Bill should be passed by the legislature of the State where the funds are deposited before the money can be obtained; and if, in such cases, the British Consul to the State undertakes the passage of the necessary Bill authorising payment?
§ Sir E. GREYI am not aware of this requirement. Each State of the Union has its own laws, but His Majesty's Consular officers abroad cannot interfere in matters of internal legislation of the country in which they reside.
A Convention signed at Washington, 2nd March, 1899, deals with the question of the disposal of real and personal property within the territories of the one Power on the death of subjects or citizens holding such property of the other Power.