DEPARTMENT OF STATE
THE LEGAL ADVISER
October 31, 1944
Acceptance by the President of Honorary
Citizenship of the City of Rome
Mr. Taylor states in his telegram of October 30
from Rome that officials of the Vatican have inquired whether it would be
acceptable to the President if during the present week Prince Doria, Mayor
ome, conferred upon him in absentia honorary citizenship of
Article I, Section 9, of the Constitution provides
that no title of nobility shall be granted by the United
States and that "no Person holding any Office of Profit
or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of
any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any
King, Prince, or foreign State".
An act of Congress approved January 31, 1881 provides that any "present,
decoration, or other thing which shall be conferred or presented by any
foreign government to any officer of the United States . . . shall be
tendered through the Department of State and not to the individual in
person, but such present, decoration, or other thing shall not be
delivered by the Department of State unless so authorized by act of
Congress." (U.S. Code, Title 5, Section ll5)
Ths purpose of the provision in the Constitution
was to prevent officials of this Government frombeing
influenced by foreign governments.
It is not quite certain what the status of "Prince
Duria" is, but it is understood that he is not a member
of the Royal Family, but rather holds the title under
the