Very interesting. The use of this travel document raised some interesting legal questions because so many holders were stateless. If, for example, you came to the US as a visitor with a Nansen travel document, where would you go “back to” when your period of authorized stay ended. But these documents were life savers for many refugees between the wars. The Astaire Rogers movie “Roberta” deals with Russian nobility in Paris in the 1930s. Irene Dunne plays a Russian princess and sings “Smoke gets in Your Eyes” and Ginger Rogers pretends to be Russian nobility because “you have to have a title to croon over here.” Thanks so much for your very interesting post!!!!
Thank you, Doug, and for subscribing! I’m not sure how many people went to the US with the Nansen passport. I think it was Europe that mostly dealt with this situation, but my guess is they possibly became naturalized citizens of the country they were living in if indeed they stayed there for a long time. It’s a very good question. Also, Parisian Days is a fascinating read if you’re interested in the Russian community in Paris. Part of Banine’s memoir is a sort of study of the community itself, aside from her own personal story that she tells.
The members of the Budapest string Quartet - who I think were all Russians- used Nansen passports. On one occasion they were detained at Ellis Island because one of them incautiously responded “I have no residence” when asked by the immigration inspector where he lived. The mayor of New York intervened to get them released. I look forward to reading Banine’s memoir and more of your posts!!!! Thanks so much!!!
Very interesting. Thank you.
Very interesting. The use of this travel document raised some interesting legal questions because so many holders were stateless. If, for example, you came to the US as a visitor with a Nansen travel document, where would you go “back to” when your period of authorized stay ended. But these documents were life savers for many refugees between the wars. The Astaire Rogers movie “Roberta” deals with Russian nobility in Paris in the 1930s. Irene Dunne plays a Russian princess and sings “Smoke gets in Your Eyes” and Ginger Rogers pretends to be Russian nobility because “you have to have a title to croon over here.” Thanks so much for your very interesting post!!!!
Thank you, Doug, and for subscribing! I’m not sure how many people went to the US with the Nansen passport. I think it was Europe that mostly dealt with this situation, but my guess is they possibly became naturalized citizens of the country they were living in if indeed they stayed there for a long time. It’s a very good question. Also, Parisian Days is a fascinating read if you’re interested in the Russian community in Paris. Part of Banine’s memoir is a sort of study of the community itself, aside from her own personal story that she tells.
The members of the Budapest string Quartet - who I think were all Russians- used Nansen passports. On one occasion they were detained at Ellis Island because one of them incautiously responded “I have no residence” when asked by the immigration inspector where he lived. The mayor of New York intervened to get them released. I look forward to reading Banine’s memoir and more of your posts!!!! Thanks so much!!!
Very cool!
Fascinating ‼️
I thought so! I had never heard of this before but I had to go down the rabbit hole.