No. 233.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Washburne.

No. 614.]

Sir: Referring to your No. 963, of the 5th of May, relating to the case of an American woman married to a British subject and divorced, and by whom an application was made to you for a passport as a citizen of the United States, I have to state that the course pursued by you in regard thereto is approved.

On reference to my No. 238, in relation to the conditions upon which passports are granted to aliens, it appears to render further instructions on the subject unnecessary.

It is proper, however, to say, by way of explanation of those instructions, that it is not intended to be inferred that when a woman, a citizen of the United States, marries an alien who resides out of the jurisdiction of the United States, she absolutely ceases to be a citizen thereof, and becomes subject to all the disabilities of alienage. The instruction must, of course, be assumed to refer only to subjects within the cognizance of this Department.

I am, &c.,

HAMILTON FISH.