Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

New Rumanian Law Prevents Jews from Reaching Palestine Through Neutral Countries

February 18, 1942
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

Jews in Rumania who in spite of the Nazi domination of that country found a way to emigrate to Palestine will no longer be in a position to do so as a result of new regulations published in the Rumanian press which reached here today.

Formerly, Jews from Rumania desiring to reach Palestine managed to emigrate from the country to Turkey, making the 48-hour Black Sea voyage on board Rumanian freighters. Others made their way to Turkey by land through Bulgaria. From Turkey the Jewish refugees could easily reach Palestine by land via Syria as soon as they secured their Palestine visas.

The new regulations, which went into force on the day of their publication, provide that no Jew can emigrate from Rumania unless he first secures, in Bucharest, a visa to the country of his destination. Rumania and Britain being at war, there is no British Consulate in Bucharest that could issue entrance visas to Palestine.

Rumanian Jews seeking to go to Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and other countries which maintain normal diplomatic relations with Rumania, will be allowed to leave the country under the new regulations, providing that they sign a document stating that they do not ever intend to return to Rumania. This provision will make it impossible for a Rumanian Jew to receive a visa to enter any of the neighboring countries which they were formerly permitted to visit for business purposes, since none of the neighboring countries will admit Jews for permanent residence.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement