Correspondence: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ankara, and Legation of Turkey in Berne.
This file contains legal documents about Turkish refugees.
Within the context of the expulsion decree deadline extended to 6 Feb. 1929, correspondence exchanged to enable naturalization of refugees or their evacuation through free visas or labour contracts. The file includes translations of Turkish laws on nationality and related stamp duties.
It contains file 45/20336/15833/Jackets 1&2, correspondence on the subject of the Russian refugees in Constantinople and the issuing of identity certificates to them. It is exchanged between the Deputy Assistant Commissioner for refugees, S. Lawford Childs, French and British authorities (Allied High Commissioners) and Turkish authorities as well as with the High Commissioner in Geneva and the Secretary-General.
This file documents the decision of the Turkish government to issue special passports that are in agreement with the identity certificates system adopted by the Inter-governmental conference held at Geneva, July 3rd-5th, 1922, as per circular letter of 29 Jan. 1924. Collective passports are issued by the HCR for group evacuations. It contains correspondence, memoranda and notes, exchanges between the Legal section (Dr. van Hamel) and Major T.F. Johnson of the Refugee Service, between Consuls and the Secretary-General, the delegate S. Lawford Childs and other delegations of the HCR. The question of the status of Armenian and Georgian refugees is raised as well as of new Turkish laws making the collective passport procedure much more lengthy and expensive.
Correspondence between the Delegate, Mr. Schlemmer, and the Chief of the Refugee Service as well as with American relief organizations to organize the evacuation of Russian refugees from Constantinople [Stamboul] following a decree of expulsion by the Turkish government. Correspondence is also exchanged with Turkish national authorities.
Correspondence and telegrams exchanged regarding the evacuation project, a committee is created for the cooperation between ILO and HCR on the one hand and American philanthropy on the other, sometimes referred to as the Constantinople Committee, a sub-committee of the advisory committee for refugees. The project evolves to a point where the ILO declines further responsibility for the liquidation of the Russian refugee question in Turkey.
It contains file 45/16729/16729, correspondence with the British authorities and Greek High Commissioner regarding the legal status of Russian subjects in Smyrna.