The Reverend A.B., Presbyterian Minister and Missionary of the Presbyterian Church of Korea, was born in Germany.

He left Germany and arrived in Melbourne in 1898. He has since resided in Melbourne and Korea for varying lengths of time, but has not continuously resided in Melbourne for a length of time to obtain naturalization, though anxious to do so. When in Korea he was anxious to become naturalized as a British subject, but was unable to do so, as Korea was not part of the British Dominions. The British Consul-General at Seoul, Korea, at the instigation of the British Foreign Office, registered him as a British protected subject, and issued him a certificate of registration and a passport annually until Korea was annexed by Japan. Mr B. is desirous of receiving similar treatment in the Commonwealth, if he is not eligible for naturalization.

The Secretary, Department of External Affairs, has forwarded the papers for advice as to whether the certificates of registration are only issued by ministers and consuls in countries not possessing European civilisation and for use in such countries.

I am unable to find any specific authority under which the certificates in question are issued by the Foreign Office, but from their character I am inclined to agree with the Secretary that they would only be issued in countries not possessing European civilisation, and for use only in such countries.

The certificates are issued to enable the holders to obtain the protection of His Majesty's representatives abroad as being under British protection, though not strictly British subjects.

I do not think that such certificates would be issued to people resident in the British Dominions. In such a case mere residence would give them all the protection to which they would be entitled.

Any further protection could only be obtained by naturalization.

[Vol. 13, p. 373]