HC Deb 03 April 1922 vol 152 cc1801-2
1. Mr. MILLS

asked the President of the Board of Trade what circumstances are now accepted by the Public Trustee as sufficient to establish the loss of original nationality and present stateless condition of persons formerly of German, Austrian, Bulgarian, and Turkish nationality, respectively, so as to enable him to release property belonging to them which was seized during the War?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Baldwin)

The circumstances depend upon the law of the country of which the person was a national, and it is difficult to summarise them in an answer. Stated shortly, they are, in the case of Germany, a formal discharge by the German Government or uninterrupted residence out of Germany for 10 years without registration at a German Consulate. Applications for the release of the property on the grounds referred to should, where the applicant was formerly of German nationality, be made to the Public Trustee. Other applications should be addressed to the Administrator of Austrian, Hungarian, and Bulgarian Property. Pending the ratification of a Treaty of Peace with Turkey, no statement can be made regarding the property of Turkish nationals.