Jewish refugees from Bulgaria now living abroad will lose their citizenship and may have their property confiscated, if they do not return to that country by Friday, according to a cable from Sofia received today by the World Jewish Congress. The cable said that the Jewish Consistory in Bulgaria has appealed to the government for an extension until March 1, 1947.
The law, providing for the return within twelve months of all Bulgarian refugees, was issued by the government in March 1945. It was passed primarily to induce the return of fascist fugitives and was not directed against others. However, as it is now written, the law makes no differentiation among ’emigres,’ and would stigmatize Jewish refugees as fugitives despite the fact that they fled because of the Nazi occupation of the country.
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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.