CO885-(15-16) — Page 65

30853.

SIR,

i

No. 52.

(SOUTH AFRICA).

LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Royal Courts of Justice,

September 20, 1900. We were honoured with your commands signified in Mr. Graham's letter of the 29th ultimo, stating that he was directed by you to request our consideration of a question which had arisen with regard to the nationality of a minor child of Mr. Jacob Wolff. That Mr. Wolff, Junior, proposed to return to the Orange River Colony, in which he was born, but in which he had not resided since 1882.

That Mr. Graham was to transmit to us copy of correspondence which had passed between Mr. Wolff, Senior, and the Colonial Office, from which it appeared that Mr. Wolff, Senior, was born in the Netherlands, and was not a naturalized British subject. That the son in question was born at Lindley, in the Orange Free State, in 1881, but left the Orange Free State with his father a year later, with whom he had since resided in London.

That Mr. Graham was further to enclose a copy of our report of May 17th,* in which we expressed the opinion that the inhabitants of the Orange Free State would become British subjects upon annexation, but that the transfer of nationality ought not to be imposed on inhabitants who were not within the Orange Free State at the time of annexation unless they returned to it afterwards.

That Mr. Graham was to add that there was at present no law under which Mr. Wolff, Junior, could be naturalized in the Orange River Colony unless it could be held that the law of the Orange Free State under which aliens could become burghers was still in operation, not having been repealed since the annexation by any legislation by Her Majesty in Council.

That Mr. Graham was to request us to take these matters into our consideration and

to report :-

1. Whether Mr. Wolff, Junior, was a British subject?

2. Whether if Mr. Wolff returned to the Orange River Colony he would be or

become a British subject?

3. What answer should be returned to Mr. Wolff's letter of 16th June ? 4. Generally.

We have taken the matter into our consideration, and in obedience to have the honour to-

Report-

1. That in our opinion Mr. Wolff, Junior, is not a British subject.

2. No.

your

commands

3. If Mr. Wolff, Senior, is in a position to obtain, and does obtain a certificate of naturalization in the United Kingdom, it will have the effect under section 10, ss. 5, of the British Naturalization Act of 1870, of making his son, being resident with him, a naturalized British subject.

Unless this course is taken, Mr. Wolff, Junior, will have to wait until some law is passed for the naturalization of aliens in the Orange River Colony under the new. condition of affairs.

A communication to this effect should be sent to Mr. Wolff.

We have, &c.,

R. B. FINLAY. EDWARD CARSON.

The Right Honourable J. Chamberlain, M.P.,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

• No. 36A.

681825-9,1900 Wt324 D&S

b

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

LLC.O. 885

15 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

+