CYIL vol. 9 (2018)

CYIL 9 ȍ2018Ȏ CZECHOSLOVAKIA: CERTIFICATES AND PASSPORTS OF REFUGEES The Decree ( výnos ) no. 1614-N of the Ministry of Interior dated 2 April 1919 demanded the flawless execution of border control, not just at frontiers themselves. 39 The control had to be executed inland. Non-nationals could be checked during their travel in trains, or at inland train stations, especially at crossroads or important international lines of transportation. 40 One or more officials were assigned with the task of control at each district. The decree also ordered the execution of frequent and rigorous checks of passports in hotels, inns, and hostels where non-nationals could possibly stay.Despite the strict measures, Russian and Ukrainian refugees were coming into the Czechoslovak Republic uncontrollably without proper travel documents, in particular from the south. Moreover, according to police reports, they were missing legal justification for their stay. Some of them were obtaining means for living without working. Many remained without any income at all. Sometimes Russian refugees would abuse the hospitality of private persons. Their behaviour was deemed a threat to public order and national security by political and police authorities. Individuals even intervened in politics by defending monarchism. The uncontrolled arrival of refugees took place substantially in the critical year of 1921, after the defeat of Wrangle’s White Army. 41 Personal certificates of residency The relevant ministries were forced to take a political stance and adopt administrative measures with regard to the utterly unstable status of the Russian refugees. Letter ( přípis ) no. 8190/21 pres. of the Presidium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted in 1921 that a number of Russian nationals, whether former prisoners of war or refugees from Soviet Russia, lived in Czechoslovakia without the ability to turn to an officially recognized consulate. 42 Russian refugees residing irregularly in the state territory often asked representatives of the so- called Russian diplomatic missions 43 for assistance in the matters of their identity. These refugees wished to be equipped with personal documents. They intended to obtain a simple certificate of their identity from them. Naturally, neither of these so-called Russian diplomatic missions were officially recognized by the Czechoslovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nevertheless, certificates issued by them could have a certain relevance if properly verified or legalized by the Russian Department of the Czechoslovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 44 Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to issue personal certificates of residency ( osobní průkazy na pobyt ) in Czechoslovakia for these individuals, despite the decision of not having an unequivocal statutory basis. The power was delegated to the Russian political section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the circular ( oběžník ) no. 22382-5 39 The decree was addressed to the land political administrations in Prague, Brno and Opava. Official gazette of the Ministry of Interior of the Czechoslovak Republic , Praha: Státní tiskárna, 1919, ročník I, p. 73. 40 Ibidem. 41 Notification of the Ministry of Interior, 13 August 1921 to land political administrations on the checks of documents born by non-nationals. The Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, II section, no. 339, case no. 27678/21. 42 Rusové v Československé republice; osobní průkazy. Circular of the Ministry of Interior no. 22382-5, 24 March 1921. Official gazette of the Ministry of Interior of the Czechoslovak Republic , Praha: Rolnické tiskárny, 1921, ročník III, p. 128. 43 General Leontiev and V. Rafalsky led the so-called diplomatic missions. 44 Notification of the Ministry of Interior, 13 August 1921 to land political administrations on the checks of documents born by non-nationals. The Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, II section, no. 339, case no. 27678/21. 3.

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