1. A number of applications for Canadian travel documents have been received by the Legation in Belgrade from Canadian Yugoslav dual nationals and their dependents who returned to Yugoslavia on the Radnik and now wish to come back to Canada. Many of these persons travelled to Yugoslavia on Yugoslav passports. In those cases in which Canadian passports were used they were impounded by the Yugoslav authorities on arrival.

2. Before any of these dual nationals, whether natural born or naturalized Canadians, can leave Yugoslavia, they are required to obtain exit permits from Yugoslav authorities. To assist them to do so a procedure was established in December 1948, whereby the Mission in Belgrade might grant Emergency Certificates of validity restricted to three months in order to provide eligible applicants with Canadian documents which would show the Yugoslav authorities that they were admissible to Canada. Nevertheless so far very few persons have been successful in obtaining permission to return.

3. However, there are now a few cases in which the Minister at Belgrade is seeking authority to issue Emergency Certificates. In these cases it is the practice to make security enquiries before approval is given. In one case . . . " it is reported that the applicants, both Canadian citizens by naturalization, were known to be members of a Communist controlled organization before leaving Canada.

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4. The question arises whether anything should be done to facilitate the return to Canada of persons with such records.¹²

5. The following considerations weigh against granting Emergency Certificates: (i) These persons were known to be members of a Communist organization here. They may now wish to return to Canada only because they are more attached to the Russian than to the Yugoslav school of Communism.

(ü) They ignored the warning contained in the Government's Press release of April 30, 1948, ^? that Canadian Yugoslav dual nationals who went to Yugoslavia might be unable to obtain permission to leave that country.

(iii) We do not undertake to afford diplomatic and consular protection to dual nationals while they are in the country of their other nationality and could decline to grant them Emergency Certificates if it were considered desirable.

6. The following considerations tell in favour of granting Emergency Certificates: (i) The applicants are Canadian citizens by naturalization admissible to Canada as of right even without travel documents. Their citizenship is not subject to revocation on the security grounds adduced.

(ii) Denial of travel documents on security grounds would place these persons in a less favoured position than other Canadian citizens, including the renegades who fought against Canada in the recent war.

(iii) To deny Emergency Certificates would probably destroy any chance there might be of securing exit permits; in other cases, denial of a Certificate to the head of a family group on security grounds applicable to him alone might prevent the whole family group from returning to this country.

(iv) Many persons who contemplated returning to Yugoslavia were assured by Yugoslav officials here that they would be allowed to leave Yugoslavia whenever they wished.

(v) There is evidence that many of those who were sympathetic to Communism when they left Canada have radically changed their views as a result of their experiences in Yugoslavia.<./p>

7. In order that these cases may be dealt with I should be grateful for instructions as follows:

Should Emergency Certificates be granted to [those in such circumstances] ¹³14

¹¹ Les noms ont été omis, conformément à la Loi sur la protection des renseignements personnels.
Names deleted in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act.

¹² Note marginale:/Marginal note:
No unless we are certain that they will bear witness against Communism on their return which might then be useful. L.B.P[earson]

¹³ Note marginale:/Marginal note:
Only if we are reasonably certain of the change referred to in para[graph] (v) above.
L.B.P[earson]

¹⁴ Note marginale:/Marginal note:
There may be an opportunity of mentioning this in Cabinet Thursday. Privy Council are being notified in case you wish to do so. A.D.P.H[eeney]