No. 155.
Mr. Scruggs to Mr.
Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Bogota, March 4, 1885.
(Received June 4.)
No. 195.Sir: Relating to the subject of my No. 190, I
inclose copies of a correspondence between the British legation here and the
Colombian foreign office. From this it seems the Colombian Government claims
as its citizens children born in Chili, but now residing here, whose father
was a British-born subject and whose mother was born in Colombia, of British
parents.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 195.]
Mr. St. John to Mr.
Restrepo.
British
Legation,
Bogota, February 13,
1885.
Mr. Minister: I have been applied to by a
widowed British mother for information as to the nationality of her
children while in Colombia, doubts on the subject having arisen in her
mind after the publication of a recent Government decree. The
circumstances are as follows: The father was a British-born subject; the
mother is a Colombian born, of British parents. The children were born
in Chili, but now residing in Colombia.
I shall feel obliged if your excellency will favor me with the views of
the Colombian Government on the subject, in order that I may inform the
parties interested.
I avail myself, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
195.—Translation.]
Mr. Restrepo to Mr.
St. John.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Bogota, February 16,
1885.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to answer your
excellency’s esteemed note dated the 13th instant.
As established by the 2d paragraph of the 31st article of the
constitution, “the children of a Colombian father or mother, whether
born within the territory of the United States of Colombia or not,
provided in the latter case they settle in the country, are Colombians.”
There seems, therefore, to be no doubt that the children of the
Colombian mother, who has expressed to your excellency her doubt on the
subject, are citizens of this country, provided they are settled in
it.
I have, &c.,
