The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-17

1
 esting contribution to material for stuoy of the divorce question is the tanWa'eo aualysis of the divorce laws Of the va rious European countries and the seii- governing colonies of the British emplie' submitted to the royal commission on ol- vcrce by its secretary, Gosel 6arhes- The salient features of these laws may be briefly summarized.
 Austria permits to Catholics only, but has different laws for other sects. Prot estants may obtain divorce on the seV- oral grounds of misconduct, malicious de- sertion. an attempe on the life of the consort and 'insuperable aversloh' while separation is permitted on tue grounds of ill treatment, inducement to an immoral life, or mutual agree ment Eleven grounds for suit are open to Greek residents in Austria among which are an unfounded accusation of misconduct against the wife, high trea- son, entry into monastic order. mali cious assertion, cruelty. conspiracy against the life of the consort, and ir- reconcilable hatred" No separation IS permissible. Jews have nine grounds of divorce open to them. amongst wh1cn are malicious desertion, immoral nWng' cruelty, the agreement of both parties' and the fact that one of the spouses has become a Christian.
 Belgium recognizes as grounds for di- vorce, misconduct of the wife, miscon- duct of the husband if he shall have kept the correspondent in the common fa city, grave indignities. sentence on one of the parties involving loss of civil rights and mutual and unwavering consent of the parties expressed in the manner prescribed by law" Separation Is per- mitted, but on the demand of the re- spondent divorce must be granted after three years unless the petitioner agrees to the cessation of the separation. Ten grounds for divorce are recogniz . ed in Bulgaria, these including miscon- duct, cruelty threat or designs against | the life of the consort, the absence or the husband for four years If his where abouts Is unknown, or if in the case of its being known, he fails to send his wife means of support, insanity sentence to severe punishment for theft. fraud em- l bezzlement, or homicide; unsubstanti- ated charge of misconduct made by one party against the other, and restraint of religious liberty"
 In Denmark, the grounds for judAial divorce include misconduct, bigamy. ie- sertion, leporosy. absence for five years where the presumption is that the ab- sentee is dead, and Imprisonment for life. Administrative divorce Is obtain able on the grounds of insanity, separ- ation for three years, or sentence or three years. Separation can be grant ed by the minister of justice. usually on the grounds which entitle to divorce. | Tn France the grounds or divorce are | misconduct, violence endangering nfe' cruelty grave indignities, and the con dcmnation of either party to an "afflic' tive or degrading punishment. Sepra- | alton is permissible, but where separ- alton has continued for three years II can be converted as right into divorce or the application of either party. Di- vorce in the German empire is obtain | able on either absolute or discretionary grounds.
 Absolute grounds include misconduct bigamy, attempt on life, malicious de- sertion for one year, and insanity Of three years duration destroying intellectual communion between the parties, and holding out no hope of recovery" Sep arafion is allowed on grounds similar tc those already mentioned, but on the de- mand of the defendant decree of divorce
 must be granted.
 Discretionary divorce is obtainable on the grounds of grave violation fmarita duties, or of "dishonorable or immord conduct rendering eight relations SC strained that the continuance of the marriage ought not to be expected Greece allows the husband elDtf
 grounds for divorce and the wife only seven. For the husband the grounds embrace misconduct, an attempt on th'
 husbands life non-disclosure Of hel | knowledge of a conspiracy against th'
 sovereign staying the night at another
 house excepting the house of her parents
 attending races, theatres, or sports With
 out the husbands consent, or attendins
 dii ners or bathing in the company O.
 men against the husbands wish
 wife may allcge as ground for divorce
 the husbands conspiracy against th'
 sovereign or his failure to denounc'
 such a conspiracy after it has come t'
 his knowledge, an attempt by the hus
 band on her life, or his failure to 5e
 nounce 1t or prosecute in respect Of l after becoming aware of plots agains
 her life, his endeavour to procure mis
 conduct on her part, his preferment
 false charge of misconduct in the hom
 or his persistent misconduct in the sam
 town.
 Hungary specifics, as absolute ground
 for divorce, misconduct, bigamy, mali
 cicus desertion an attempt upon the If
 the safety or healthso of the other party ! and sentence of death or five years i'm prisonnent. Discretionary grounds fo