memorandum.

With reference to the request contained in the memorandum of the British embassy of May 26 last, for an expression of the views of this Government upon the matter of the citizenship of Filipinos, intended for the guidance of British consuls at ports of the United States in determination of the question whether they may or may not discharge Filipinos who, serving as seamen on British merchant vessels, ask to be discharged at United States ports before the voyage for which they have signed articles has terminated, the Attorney-General, to whom the subject has been referred, writes, under date of July 12, that the question is not to be lightly determined. A man may be a citizen in one sense of the word, or from certain points of view, or for certain purposes, yet not in every sense nor for all purposes.

He asks to be informed more definitely what the facts in the cases which have arisen may be, and in what manner the question of citizenship presented itself, believing that he would thereafter be better able to pass upon the subject.