CYIL vol. 9 (2018)

DALIBOR JÍLEK CYIL 9 ȍ2018Ȏ the competent authority, particularly with a view of obtaining visas and residency, admission to schools, libraries, etc. 106 This diplomatic note became a political prerequisite for approving the following implementation instruction on the reform of issuing certificates of identity ( osobní průkazy ). 107 The circular of the Ministry of Interior of 11 December 1929 abolished the circulars mentioned in decree no. 19.624 of 16 April 1928. 108 Certainly, the circular was basically used for a registration function. All Russian refugees, including refugees of Ukrainian nationality, and Armenian refugees, with no exceptions, had to register themselves. Russian and Armenian refugees, who were granted an exemption from the provisions of section 2 of the Passport Act of 1928 were also subjected to registration. Furthermore, the statutory rule continued keeping the general passport duty. Non-nationals were allowed to cross the Czechoslovak state border and stay here only with passports, unless they have been granted an official exception. Provisions of section 5 of the Passport Act entrusted the political authorities of the second degree with the power to issue personal certificates of identity. The Land Office could authorize the district or possibly the state police office according to the place of residency of the refugee to grant these documents. Certificates began to be issued by the competent passport authorities on 1 January 1930. These documents replaced the internal measures that set the exception from provisions of section 2 of the Passport Act of 1928. At the same time, these personal certificates superseded the Czechoslovak provisional passports granted under section 5 of the same statute. The competent authorities were no longer permitted to receive applications from Russian or Armenian refugees for these temporary travel documents. Since the stated date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs terminated the issuance of personal certificates of residency to individual refugees. District or state police organs have ceased to extend these documents exclusively subject to national jurisdiction. Special application forms were prepared for individual requests. Refugees submitted their applications for personal certificates of identity to the competent passport authorities generally in their place of residency. According to the principle of proximity, the authorities had the official opportunity of certifying the identity, moreover, the authenticity, regularity, and accuracy of the applicant’s data. The authorities were specifically allowed to contact state- recognized organizations of Russian, Ukrainian, or Armenian refugees about the reliability of the information concerning the identity of a refugee. The circular expressly mentioned Zemgor , the Czechoslovak Red Cross, or the Agricultural Unity. 109 Representatives of the High Commissioner for refugees could also assist the state organs. 106 Arrangement relating to the Legal Status of Russian and Armenian Refugees. Signed in Geneva, 30 June 1928. League of Nations, Treaty Series , 1929, Vol. LXXXIX, No. 2005, pp. 55-56. 107 Russian and Armenian refugees – new provisions on personal certificates (Uprchlíci ruští a arménští – nová ustanovení o osobních průkazech). Circular of the Ministry of Interior no. 66.540/1929-5, 11 December 1929. Official gazette of the Ministry of Interior of the Czechoslovak Republic , Praha: Novina, 1930, ročník XII, pp. 1-7. 108 KALOUSEK, Zákon o cestovních pasech. Official gazette of the Ministry of Interior of the Czechoslovak Republic, Praha, Rolnické tiskárny, 1928, ročník X, p. 142. 109 Russian and Armenian refugees – new provisions on personal certificates (Uprchlíci ruští a arménští – nová ustanovení o osobních průkazech). Circular of the Ministry of Interior no. 66.540/1929-5, 11 December 1929 . Official gazette of the Ministry of Interior of the Czechoslovak Republic , Praha: Novina, 1930, ročník XII, p. 3.

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