single sheet of paper printed in a conventional format, the document was generally valid 1 year and did not permit return to the issuing country unless so stated in the document.1 (Exhibit 68) The countries adopting the "Nansen passports" included Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, England, Sweden, and Switzerland. The United States, which was not a member of the League of Nations, was not a party to the issuance of the Nansen document to refugees. The Nansen document was issued through an arrangement made by the Nansen International Office for Refugees, an autonomous organization under the auspices of the League of Nations. The term "Nansen passport", however, was erroneously applied to virtually all travel and identity documents issued to stateless persons. The "Nansen passport" related only to the document issued by the Nansen Office or by one of the signatories to the Convention. In 1939, the Nansen International Office for Refugees ceased to exist, but certain states continued to issue modified Nansen certificates to refugees.2 A revised Nansen document was issued to refugees and displaced persons as a result of another intergovernmental conference in November 1946. It appears that a similar document was issued to displaced persons by zonal commanders in Western Europe under the auspices of the Military Government for Germany.3 The U.N. Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons came into being on June 6, 1960, as the result of ratification by the required six nations. A travel document, similar to the "Nansen passport" is now issued by the eight signatory countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Israel, Luxembourg, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Yugoslavia. The United States, which is not a member of the Convention, does not issue these travel documents.4 1 Passport Office letter (Edward J. Hickey to N.F. Hodges, Wash., D.C.) dated Oct 11, 1961, MS. Department of State, file PPT 1472; "Travel Documents," American Journal of International Law, Apr. 1954, Wash., D.C., p. 205. 2 Office of European Affairs (Achilles), “Refugee Work of the League" memorandum, Jan. 26, 1938; copy attached to memorandum from the Chief of the European Division (Moffat) to the Secretary of State (Hull), Jan. 26, 1938, MS. Department of State, file 511.1C1/132. 3 Acting Secretary of State Acheson to the American Consul at Geneva telegram, Mar. 26, 1947, MS. Department of State, file 501.MA/3-1847. The message was drafted by George L. Warren, Adviser on Refugees and Displaced Persons, Department of State. 4 Passport Office letter (Edward J. Hickey to N.F. Hodges, Wash., D.C.) dated Oct. 11, 1961, MS. Department of State, file PPT 1472. Exhibit 70. Certificate of safe conduct issued to enemy diplomat Thomas G. Laissez-Passer During World War I (1914-1918), when no one was permitted to leave the United States without documentation, a form of laissez-passer or safe conduct was issued to departing foreign diplomats, whether retiring from their posts or merely making temporary visits abroad.5 (Exhibits 69 and 70) The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, adopted by the General Assembly on February 13, 1946, established the issuance of laissez-passer to U.N. officials. The laissez-passer was to be recognized and accepted as a valid travel document by the authorities of the member states. Visa applications were to be processed quickly and all possible assistance in travel was to be extended. The Secretary-General, Assistant Secretaries-General and Directors traveling on U.N. laissezpasser on U.N. business were to be granted the same privileges accorded to diplomatic travelers. Laissez-passer could be used for home and approved personal travel in conjunction with the bearer's official U.N. position.6 According to the resolution of December 11, 1946, laissezpassers have been prepared and issued since the summer of 1950. It has been described as follows: The laissez-passer has a stiff blue composition binding and has embossed on the front cover in gold letters the words "United Nations, Nations Unies, Laissez-Passer," with the seal of the United Nations also in gold. The document contains 38 pages. Page 1 has a description of the bearer; page 2, the bearer's photograph; page 3, a request to extend to the holder certain courtesies, facilities, privileges and immunities; page 4, the name and title of the bearer, the date and validity of the laissez-passer, and the name of the Secretary General of the United Nations; page 5, the Article and Sections of the Convention under which issued; page 6, the members of the family accompanying the bearer; pages 7-28 inclusive have space for visas; and pages 29-38 inclusive, contain articles 7 and 5 of the Convention printed in the five official languages of the United Nations." Documents Issued to Enemy Before a group of enemy diplomats can depart from the United States, the Secretary of State issues the ranking officer 5 Whiteman, Digest of International Law, vol. 7, U.S. Government Printing Office, Wash., D.C., 1970, pp. 99, 100. 6 Ibid., vol. 8, 1967, pp. 330-338. 'DEPCIRGRAM July 8, 1947, to American diplomatic and consular officers. |