The Polish Parliament today adopted a bill depriving persons residing abroad of Polish citizenship, which will affect thousands of Jews living in Austria, Germany, Palestine and elsewhere. Amendments offered by Deputy Emil Sommerstein and others were rejected.
Under the measure, which was drafted by the Cabinet and tabbed for swift action, citizenship will be taken away from persons residing abroad who are deemed to be working injury to the Polish State, and also those living abroad for five years since the establishment of the Polish Republic in 1918 who have lost connections with the State or have refused to obey an order of a representative of the Republic to return to Poland.
A clause provides that the loss of citizenship, effective immediately after adoption of the bill, would not be subject to appeal. Other clauses state that persons renouncing Polish nationality for another would not be admitted to Poland except under special permit of the interior Ministry.
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