CYIL vol. 9 (2018)

DALIBOR JÍLEK CYIL 9 ȍ2018Ȏ the Ministry of Interior. At the same time, refugees had to obtain entrance or transit visas to those states they intended to go to. 77 Border control organs were not to make any obstacles for Russian refugees when entering or leaving the Czechoslovak Republic. The Ministry of Interior later, upon an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, permitted control stations on international routes to issue transit visas to travellers, with the rigorous exception of nationals of the Soviet Union. 78 Other types of visas, permitting non-nationals to cross the Czechoslovak border, remained outside the scope of the application of the Graz agreement. According to the decree of the Ministry of Interior, the competent authorities had to distinguish between non-nationals permanently settled in the Czechoslovak Republic and those with temporary residency. Non- nationals with temporary residency were not to be issued visas that entitled them to return to Czechoslovakia. Based on the implementing writ to Regulation no. 215/1921 Coll., a visa only allowed them to cross frontiers. However, non-nationals with permanent residency in Czechoslovakia were granted return visas. 79 Nevertheless, according to the ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court of 1December 1924, a non-national was not entitled to having a passport visa issued for the purpose of a longer stay in the territory of the Czechoslovak Republic, 80 nor was there any legislation that entitled visas to non-nationals either. Neither the resolution of the Paris Passport Conference nor contemporary sub-statutory legislation regulated the issuance of Czechoslovak provisional passports ( československý prozatímní pas ) to refugees. As early as 8 September of the critical year 1921, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave notification concerning the application of section 11 of Austrian Regulation no. 80 of the Reich Code of 10 May 1867 to the Ministry of Interior. Based on the provision transposed to the Czechoslovak legal order, a chief of the provincial political administration had the power to issue a new passport to a non-national in order to continue their journey abroad or to return to their homeland. 81 The circular determined a sine qua non condition that the state to which the non-national belonged to did not have a diplomatic or consular representation in Czechoslovakia. This internal instruction noted that Russians indeed lacked recognized representation. Chiefs of the provincial political administration could use their power if other, in addition to the ones stated above, conditions for issuing the provisional passport were satisfied. The holder’s nationality had to be listed in the passport. The provisional passport was valid 77 Inflow of Russian and Ukrainian Emigrants. (Příliv ruských uprchlíků do Československé republiky). Circular of the Ministry of Interior no. 9700-5, 15 February 1922. Official gazette of the Ministry of Interior of the Czechoslovak Republic , Praha, Rolnické tiskárny, 1922, ročník IV, p. 39. 78 Granting of transit visas by border control stations (Udělování průjezdních víz pohraničními kontrolními stanicemi). Circular of the Ministry of Interior no. 82.858-5. Official gazette of the Ministry of Interior of the Czechoslovak Republic , Praha, Rolnické tiskárny, 1925, ročník VII, pp. 376-377. 79 Graz passport agreement, implementing degree (Štýrsko-hradecká pasová dohoda; prováděcí výnos). Circular of the Ministry of Interior no. 45939-5, 14 June 1922. Official gazette of the Ministry of Interior of the Czechoslovak Republic , Praha, Rolnické tiskárny, 1922, ročník IV, p. 173. 80 See Police Issues: Passport Visas of Foreign Nationals (Decision of the Supreme Administrative Court of 1 December 1924, no. 2512) Policejní záležitosti: Pasová víza cizích státních příslušníků (Nález Nejvyššího správního soudu ze dne 1. prosince 1924, č. 2512). Circular of the Ministry of Interior no. 82.858-5. Official gazette of the Ministry of Interior of the Czechoslovak Republic , Praha, Rolnické tiskárny, 1925, ročník VII, p. 44. 81 Passports to Russian nationals (Pasy ruským příslušníkům). Circular of the Ministry of Interior no. 67978-5, 25 September 1921. Official gazette of the Ministry of Interior of the Czechoslovak Republic , Praha, Rolnické tiskárny, 1921, ročník III, pp. 276-277.

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