About losing the Portuguese citizenship and Chinese customs
This 1904 official correspondence, originating from the Portuguese Consulate General in Canton, documents a formal request concerning nationality affirmation by two Macau-born Portuguese subjects, Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz and Thomás José da Silva Louceiro. Dated 23 May 1904, the letter—assigned...
Saved in:
| _version_ | 1877197588359282688 |
|---|---|
| archiveLocation | Caixa 574 |
| building | Portugal. Arquivo Diplomático e Biblioteca do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros |
| callnumber-first | S |
| callnumber-label | S16.E24.P12.-87279 |
| callnumber-raw | S16.E24.P12.-87279 |
| callnumber-search | S16.E24.P12.-87279 |
| collection | Portugal. Arquivo Diplomático e Biblioteca do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros |
| description | This 1904 official correspondence, originating from the Portuguese Consulate General in Canton, documents a formal request concerning nationality affirmation by two Macau-born Portuguese subjects, Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz and Thomás José da Silva Louceiro. Dated 23 May 1904, the letter—assigned reference No. 1489, Case File No. 174, Series B—is addressed to Conselheiro Menezes de Souza Pereira de Lima, then Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Lisbon. The document transmits sworn applications from the named individuals, who, having been recruited into the Chinese customs service, sought to formally affirm their Portuguese nationality through an oath. As native subjects of Macau—a Portuguese-administered territory at the time—their need to substantiate national status underscores the complex jurisdictional and administrative dynamics affecting colonial subjects in southern China during the late Qing period. The communication highlights procedural protocols within the Portuguese consular system regarding the recognition and validation of citizenship claims abroad. Situated within broader imperial and diplomatic frameworks, this file offers primary evidence of individual engagement with colonial bureaucracy, as well as the intersection of employment in Chinese state institutions and foreign subjecthood. The document serves as a valuable source for historians examining nationality, identity, and cross-border administration in early 20th-century South China and Portuguese colonial affairs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-04T19:31:36Z |
| format | Documents |
| fulltext | [transcription]
{{PAGE:1}}
CONSULADO Geral DE PORTUGAL EM CANTÃO N.º 1489. Processo N.º 174 Série B. Cantão, 23 de maio de 1904. 24-5-1904. Ilmo. e Exmo. Sr.
Tenho a honra de passar às mãos de V.Ex.ª para os fins convenientes, os incluídos requerimentos de subditos portugueses naturais de Macau, Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz e Thomás José da Silva Louceiro, que necessitando empregar-se na alfândega chinesa, dão querem jurar a sua nacionalidade. Dexos guarde a V.Ex.ª:
Ilmo. e Exmo. Sr. Conselheiro
Wenceslau de Souza Pereira de Lima
Ministro e Secretário d'Estado dos Negócios Estrangeiros.
Lisboa
[Signature] Jr.
[translation]
{{PAGE:1}}
--- TRANSLATION ---
PORTUGUESE CONSULATE GENERAL IN CANTON
No. 1489. Case File No. 174, Series B.
Canton, 23 May 1904. 24-5-1904.
Illustrious and Most Excellent Sir,
I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency, for such purposes as may be appropriate, the enclosed applications from Portuguese subjects native to Macau—Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz and Thomás José da Silva Louceiro—who, being required to take up employment with the Chinese customs service, wish to swear an oath affirming their nationality.
May this be preserved for Your Excellency’s records.
Illustrious and Most Excellent Sir,
Conselheiro Menezes de Souza Pereira de Lima,
Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lisbon.
[Signature]
Junior Official |
| fulltext_transcription | {{PAGE:1}}
CONSULADO Geral DE PORTUGAL EM CANTÃO N.º 1489. Processo N.º 174 Série B. Cantão, 23 de maio de 1904. 24-5-1904. Ilmo. e Exmo. Sr.
Tenho a honra de passar às mãos de V.Ex.ª para os fins convenientes, os incluídos requerimentos de subditos portugueses naturais de Macau, Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz e Thomás José da Silva Louceiro, que necessitando empregar-se na alfândega chinesa, dão querem jurar a sua nacionalidade. Dexos guarde a V.Ex.ª:
Ilmo. e Exmo. Sr. Conselheiro
Wenceslau de Souza Pereira de Lima
Ministro e Secretário d'Estado dos Negócios Estrangeiros.
Lisboa
[Signature] Jr. |
| fulltext_translation | {{PAGE:1}}
--- TRANSLATION ---
PORTUGUESE CONSULATE GENERAL IN CANTON
No. 1489. Case File No. 174, Series B.
Canton, 23 May 1904. 24-5-1904.
Illustrious and Most Excellent Sir,
I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency, for such purposes as may be appropriate, the enclosed applications from Portuguese subjects native to Macau—Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz and Thomás José da Silva Louceiro—who, being required to take up employment with the Chinese customs service, wish to swear an oath affirming their nationality.
May this be preserved for Your Excellency’s records.
Illustrious and Most Excellent Sir,
Conselheiro Menezes de Souza Pereira de Lima,
Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lisbon.
[Signature]
Junior Official |
| genre | Documents |
| genre_facet | Documents |
| hierarchy_browse | 1901-1904{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-QQGRCMPF Arquivo Diplomático e Biblioteca do Ministério dos Negocios Estrangeiros{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-WA7HLXCI Transcriptions{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-PAAL2UHW |
| hierarchy_parent_id | zotero-coll-PAAL2UHW zotero-coll-QQGRCMPF zotero-coll-WA7HLXCI |
| hierarchy_parent_title | Transcriptions 1901-1904 Arquivo Diplomático e Biblioteca do Ministério dos Negocios Estrangeiros |
| hierarchy_sequence | 0000 0000 0000 |
| hierarchy_top_id | zotero-coll-WX87PJHD zotero-coll-WX87PJHD zotero-coll-WX87PJHD |
| hierarchy_top_title | News News News |
| hierarchytype | Default |
| id | zotero-WUTTYFXN |
| institution | zotero_group |
| language | Portuguese |
| last_indexed | 2026-09-24T07:28:05Z |
| latest_content_date | 2026-09-24T07:28:05Z |
| publishDate | Maio 1904 |
| publishDateRange | 1904 |
| publishDateSort | 1904 |
| record_format | zotero |
| spelling | About losing the Portuguese citizenship and Chinese customs This 1904 official correspondence, originating from the Portuguese Consulate General in Canton, documents a formal request concerning nationality affirmation by two Macau-born Portuguese subjects, Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz and Thomás José da Silva Louceiro. Dated 23 May 1904, the letter—assigned reference No. 1489, Case File No. 174, Series B—is addressed to Conselheiro Menezes de Souza Pereira de Lima, then Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Lisbon. The document transmits sworn applications from the named individuals, who, having been recruited into the Chinese customs service, sought to formally affirm their Portuguese nationality through an oath. As native subjects of Macau—a Portuguese-administered territory at the time—their need to substantiate national status underscores the complex jurisdictional and administrative dynamics affecting colonial subjects in southern China during the late Qing period. The communication highlights procedural protocols within the Portuguese consular system regarding the recognition and validation of citizenship claims abroad. Situated within broader imperial and diplomatic frameworks, this file offers primary evidence of individual engagement with colonial bureaucracy, as well as the intersection of employment in Chinese state institutions and foreign subjecthood. The document serves as a valuable source for historians examining nationality, identity, and cross-border administration in early 20th-century South China and Portuguese colonial affairs. Documents S16.E24.P12.-87279 Portugal. Arquivo Diplomático e Biblioteca do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros Caixa 574 Maio 1904 Case File No. 174 Series B Citizenship Procedures Colonial Jurisdiction Colonial Subjects in Southern China Colonial and Imperial Law Conselheiro Menezes de Souza Pereira de Lima Consular Records from Canton Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz Formal Requests to Lisbon Historical Identity Documentation Jurisdictional Issues Late Qing Period Legal Status of Macau Residents Macau-Born Portuguese Subjects Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lisbon Nationality Affirmation Request Need to Substantiate Nationality Official Document Reference 1489 Portuguese Consular Correspondence Portuguese Consulate in Canton Portuguese Diplomatic Archives Primary Source Sworn Applications Thomás José da Silva Louceiro {{PAGE:1}} CONSULADO Geral DE PORTUGAL EM CANTÃO N.º 1489. Processo N.º 174 Série B. Cantão, 23 de maio de 1904. 24-5-1904. Ilmo. e Exmo. Sr. Tenho a honra de passar às mãos de V.Ex.ª para os fins convenientes, os incluídos requerimentos de subditos portugueses naturais de Macau, Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz e Thomás José da Silva Louceiro, que necessitando empregar-se na alfândega chinesa, dão querem jurar a sua nacionalidade. Dexos guarde a V.Ex.ª: Ilmo. e Exmo. Sr. Conselheiro Wenceslau de Souza Pereira de Lima Ministro e Secretário d'Estado dos Negócios Estrangeiros. Lisboa [Signature] Jr. {{PAGE:1}} --- TRANSLATION --- PORTUGUESE CONSULATE GENERAL IN CANTON No. 1489. Case File No. 174, Series B. Canton, 23 May 1904. 24-5-1904. Illustrious and Most Excellent Sir, I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency, for such purposes as may be appropriate, the enclosed applications from Portuguese subjects native to Macau—Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz and Thomás José da Silva Louceiro—who, being required to take up employment with the Chinese customs service, wish to swear an oath affirming their nationality. May this be preserved for Your Excellency’s records. Illustrious and Most Excellent Sir, Conselheiro Menezes de Souza Pereira de Lima, Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lisbon. [Signature] Junior Official |
| spellingShingle | About losing the Portuguese citizenship and Chinese customs Case File No. 174 Series B Citizenship Procedures Colonial Jurisdiction Colonial Subjects in Southern China Colonial and Imperial Law Conselheiro Menezes de Souza Pereira de Lima Consular Records from Canton Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz Formal Requests to Lisbon Historical Identity Documentation Jurisdictional Issues Late Qing Period Legal Status of Macau Residents Macau-Born Portuguese Subjects Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lisbon Nationality Affirmation Request Need to Substantiate Nationality Official Document Reference 1489 Portuguese Consular Correspondence Portuguese Consulate in Canton Portuguese Diplomatic Archives Primary Source Sworn Applications Thomás José da Silva Louceiro |
| title | About losing the Portuguese citizenship and Chinese customs |
| title_autocomplete | About losing the Portuguese citizenship and Chinese customs |
| title_full | About losing the Portuguese citizenship and Chinese customs |
| title_fullStr | About losing the Portuguese citizenship and Chinese customs |
| title_full_unstemmed | About losing the Portuguese citizenship and Chinese customs |
| title_short | About losing the Portuguese citizenship and Chinese customs |
| title_sort | about losing the portuguese citizenship and chinese customs |
| topic | Case File No. 174 Series B Citizenship Procedures Colonial Jurisdiction Colonial Subjects in Southern China Colonial and Imperial Law Conselheiro Menezes de Souza Pereira de Lima Consular Records from Canton Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz Formal Requests to Lisbon Historical Identity Documentation Jurisdictional Issues Late Qing Period Legal Status of Macau Residents Macau-Born Portuguese Subjects Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lisbon Nationality Affirmation Request Need to Substantiate Nationality Official Document Reference 1489 Portuguese Consular Correspondence Portuguese Consulate in Canton Portuguese Diplomatic Archives Primary Source Sworn Applications Thomás José da Silva Louceiro |
| topic_autocomplete | Case File No. 174 Series B Citizenship Procedures Colonial Jurisdiction Colonial Subjects in Southern China Colonial and Imperial Law Conselheiro Menezes de Souza Pereira de Lima Consular Records from Canton Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz Formal Requests to Lisbon Historical Identity Documentation Jurisdictional Issues Late Qing Period Legal Status of Macau Residents Macau-Born Portuguese Subjects Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lisbon Nationality Affirmation Request Need to Substantiate Nationality Official Document Reference 1489 Portuguese Consular Correspondence Portuguese Consulate in Canton Portuguese Diplomatic Archives Primary Source Sworn Applications Thomás José da Silva Louceiro |
| topic_facet | Case File No. 174 Series B Citizenship Procedures Colonial Jurisdiction Colonial Subjects in Southern China Colonial and Imperial Law Conselheiro Menezes de Souza Pereira de Lima Consular Records from Canton Felisberto Reis Graça da Cruz Formal Requests to Lisbon Historical Identity Documentation Jurisdictional Issues Late Qing Period Legal Status of Macau Residents Macau-Born Portuguese Subjects Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lisbon Nationality Affirmation Request Need to Substantiate Nationality Official Document Reference 1489 Portuguese Consular Correspondence Portuguese Consulate in Canton Portuguese Diplomatic Archives Primary Source Sworn Applications Thomás José da Silva Louceiro |
| url | https://macau-legacy.usj.edu.mo/docs/WUTTYFXN/viewer_WUTTYFXN.html |
| zotero_collection_key | PAAL2UHW QQGRCMPF WA7HLXCI |