Nicholas Levitsky, a stateless Jew, who has been making his “home” aboard the French liner “Bretagne” since August, 1953, because no country would admit him, has finally found a home, thanks to Dr. G. J. Van Heuven Goedhart, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Dr. Van Heuven Goedhart announced this week-end that Levitsky has been granted a visa and asylum by the Dominican Republic.
Levitsky was born in Shanghai, of Russian refugee parents. In 1953, he left China, traveling first to Hong Kong, then to Genoa, Italy. In Genoa, he obtained a Brazilian visa and boarded the “Bretagne” for Rio de Janeiro. However, Brazil refused to admit him, Italy would not take him back, and France did not want him although he was on a French ship.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees expressed his gratitude to the Dominican Republic for granting a visa and asylum to Levitsky, declaring that country has often in the past come to the aid of stateless persons “in most generous tradition.”
Meanwhile, it was announced that the Swedish Government has pledged a second contribution, totalling $19, 300, to the United Nations Refugee Fund. Sweden also informed the UN Refugee Organization that it will accept 12 more so-called “hardcore” cases from among European refugees stranded in China. Sweden had previously accepted 28 such cases, who have been given permanent asylum and provided with care in Swedish hospitals and other Swedish institutions.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
