New-York tribune., 1910-08-24
Status of French Nobl. Titles.

frances Keeper Of the Great seal and
Minister n Justice. speaking in the name
or the French government. has just. in re-
sronse 70 an inquiry on the part of Charles
T.eboucr. Deputy Of the Seine. made clear
she position Of the present French Re
-abli- zfth regard TO titles Of nobility
bout which there appears TO be SO much
rrisz1pre hension.
L : mistake to believe that these
titles have been abolished. On the con-
r-4r~- those which are authentic, that is
- ss- which have descended in the male
,--e direct rs provided hy french law,
arc not only recognized. bnt safesuarded
~ the republic But they have to be reg
istered by the Keeper Of the Great Seal
and the Department Of Justice. either on
nc succession OF q lawful her or on the
revival Of an old title which has been in
sheysnce. The Keeper of the Great Seal
grants this registration only in the case
~ full and convincing documentary proof
being furnished Of the existence Of the
t--le by means OF the original letters pat
e-t creating II. or else. when these patents
have been lost. by other official document
zrv evidence furnishing testimony that
r1ev have existed. The Department OF
Justice Is extremely particular about these
-egistratioas. ana there IS no such favor
ttis1 IS existed in the reign Of King Louis
Philippe and Of Napoleon III
The government Of the republic has OF
course. never bestowed any titles Of no.
t#ii.v, and during its entire existence Of
forty Years has consented, with much re-
luctance. 20 register only half dozen con-
zarred by Plus TX. between 1870 and ] SIS.
All the other titles conferred upon French
-.tizeus by the Vatican by the King Of
Ilaly. by the King Of Spain. b. the King
- Portugal ard By petty German rulers
,sE-e received no sanction and are invalid
51 fffe eyes Of French Law.
Il is only titles bestowed By the Bour-
hon rulers OF France prior and subsequent
70 the great revolution Of 1873 and those
srested By the first and third Napoleons. as
vrll Is those Of foreign origin. which
have been Officially recognized. besides the
half dozen Papal titles granted by Plus
y. which or due registration by the
Keeper Of the Great seal have legal value
5r france and they alone can be used bv
rrs+- holders in connection with any Off
c.a[ documents, such as the records Of
H5~-ls. marriages deaths. etc A man
-e-uses in an official or public docuners
IN france z title Of nobility not regis
tered h- the Department or Justice rem
oers himself liable 10 prosecution for fel-
"nE. The public officer who mentions in
document the title. without being Ger
ssin a its due registration Is also sub
-ecr To dismissal and TO more drastic pen
1ltieS. while the document III qeestion be-
Genes invalid.
The Keeper OF the Great Seal in his
replv-iu t1e Chamber OF Deputies to the
iHqu.rv Of Representative Leboucq. fur
t5er pledged himself to appIF hence
fort, with much more severity than here
tafora Iae laws contained in Article 259
Of tra Penal Code. punishing tie use Of
Unauthorized titles In conclusion. il must
be tserguEhIr- understood, first Of all. that
I1e -aws Of the davs Of the Terror abol-
is---E nObiliary titles we're repealed dur
sng the reign Of the first Napoleon, and
mar there has been 30 abolition since
.iael ~ French titles OF nobility. second,
ilst their descent Is restricted to the male
lTEe direct