The Ministry of the Interior has sent orders to a large number of Jewish merchants and businessmen in Lithuania who have Jews in their employment who are not Lithuanian citizens, demanding their dismissal on the ground that the Government has decided not to grant them an extension of their Labour permits.
The circulars have been issued in accordance with the terms of the new law (reported in the J.T.A. Bulletin of December 24th.) that employment in Lithuania should be open only to citizens against which the Jewish representatives in Lithuania have been fighting with a view to bringing about its modification in favour of the large number of Jewish Staatenlose. They were assured that the law would affect only new arrivals in the country, and that old residents, even if they have been unable to acquire citizenship, would be allowed to remain in the country and continue to earn their livelihood.
The circulars which have now been issued (the first was received by Dr. M. Krewer, the head of the Lithuanian Central Bank for assisting Jewish Co-operatives) suggests, however, that the Government intends to apply the law equally against old residents, with the result that large numbers of Jews will find themselves thrown out of employment.
No Christian firms, it is stated, have so far received these circulars demanding the dismissal of those of their employees who are not citizens.
There are at present about 9,000 Jewish aliens and Staatenlose in Lithuania, it is stated, most of them from Russia and from that part of Lithuania which is now in Polish occupation.
In accordance with a resolution adopted by the Council of the League of Nations a few years back ordering the investigation of the rules and laws in various countries concerning the rights of foreign nationals and companies and their freedom of residence and travel, the league’s Economic Committee submitted a report to the League of Nations Assembly, from which the fact emerged that in the majority of States national laws in principle assure to foreign nationals the same treatment with regard to the right to carry on any profession, industry or occupation as is enjoyed by the nationals of the State. The right is, however, subject to certain restrictions, foreigners being either excluded from the exercise of certain professions or occupations or they are subject to special conditions as regards their admission. In many countries foreigners can carry on industry, trade etc. only upon receiving a special licence. The laws of other States impose special conditions. Some of the professions and occupations from which foreigners are excluded in certain States are: Hawkers (Czecho-Slovakia) Hungary); stockbrokers (Hungary, Japan, Roumania); solicitors (England); printers, hotel or restaurant keepers (Finland).
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
