Position of Aliens in Lithuania: Despite Lithuanian Ambassador’s Assurance to Jewish Telegraphic Age

Notwithstanding the assurances given by the Lithuanian Minister in the United States, M. Balutis, to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (reported in the J.T.A. Bulletin of the 3rd. inst.) that no anti-Jewish measure is contemplated and the new employment regulations will not affect the Staatenlose Jews, Mr. Rubinstein, the editor of the “Yiddishe Stimme” here writes, this paper is receiving numerous letters every day both from individuals and from groups which go to show that even such Jewish citizens who have served in the Lithuanian army and have been wounded in the campaign against Poland, and who were previously in possession of Lithuanian passports, which were taken away from them by the arbitrary action of subordinate officials, are being deprived of their right to work. Things look particularly bad for Jewish families coming from the Vilna district, which is now in Polish occupation. Although the Lithuanian Government still regards the Vilna district as Lithuanian Irredenta, the Jews from this district are being treated as aliens or Staatenlose. Police officers are going from house to house, compelling these so-called aliens or Staatenlose, who have no other country than Lithuania, to sign a document pledging them-selves not to take up any employment in Lithuania.

The official statement that those Staatenlose who have no other homeland than Lithuania will not be affected is not being acted up to by the subordinate officials, the “Yiddishe Stimme” declares. These officials know nothing of this statement. They only know that they have their instructions to see to it that no Jewish resident without a Lithuanian passport is to be allowed to be in employment. We must protect these Lithuanian Jews who are in this way being deprived of their rights, Mr. Rubinstein concludes.