Letter from Francis Coffey to Frederick H. Boland (Dublin)

I have to report that a Mr. Robert T. Reynolds, a Washington Attorney, called to the Embassy yesterday afternoon and discussed the case of Mr. Alois Anich¹ and his wife, Anna Maria Anich who are, or were at one time, Yugoslav citizens.

It appears that Alois Anich was a Cabinet Minister in the puppet state of Croatia which was set up during the war. At the end of hostilities he and his wife lived in Switzerland for a time and then apparently entered Ireland. Mr. Reynolds showed me Certificates of Identity Nos. 331/48 and 332/48 issued to Alois Anich and Anna Maria Anich, respectively, on 18th June, 1948, by the Department of Justice, Dublin. These Certificates were valid until 17th June, 1949, and both bear the remark: 'This Certificate is available during its validity for the holder's return to Ireland without visa.'

Mr. and Mrs. Anich came to the United States on July 16, 1948, both having been granted temporary visitor's visas. An amendment to the Displaced Persons Act provides that persons who entered the United States before April 30, 1949, may remain here permanently provided they can produce satisfactory evidence that they are in fact displaced persons.

Mr. Reynolds, who is acting on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Anich, is now engaged in producing evidence for the United States Department of Justice to the effect that Mr. and Mrs. Anich are in fact displaced persons. Among the documents he requires is a letter from this Embassy to the effect that Mr. and Mrs. Anich were not, and are not, entitled to permanent residence in Ireland. It would be appreciated if you could let me know as soon as possible whether this is so.

Mr. Reynolds would also like to know whether Mr. and Mrs. Anich were granted permanent or temporary visas for Ireland and, if the latter, the period of validity of the visa. Were they permitted to enter Ireland as 'visitors' or 'refugees'?