memorandum.
Washington, May 26, 1900.
Cases have recently occurred in which British merchant vessels arriving at Boston from the Philippine Islands bring Filipinos as seamen on board, properly signed on the articles. These men, on arrival at Boston, ask for their discharge, as they claim to be United States citizens, and as such they can be discharged with the sanction of the British consul. But if they are not considered United States citizens, consular sanction to their discharge would have to be refused.
The customs authorities at Boston hold that the Filipinos in question are not entitled to claim American citizenship.
The undersigned would be glad to be made acquainted with the view of the State Department with regard to this point, which appears to be dealt with by Article IX of the treaty of peace between the United States and Spain, signed at Paris December 10, 1898.