NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: Aristides de Sousa Mendes. former Portuguese consul in Bordeaux. exercising his right to protest. guaranteed under No. 18 of Article 8 of the Constitution. appeals to the Assembly the decision of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to relieve him of his functions for having granted. against current Instructions. visas to thousands of foreigners who sought shelter from the threat of the German Army. which was at that time in the process of occupying Southwest France. inasmuch as the National Assembly is charged with the enforcement of the laws of the Nation (Article 91. No. 2) on the following grounds: "The Foreign Minister sent him instructions on the granting of visas. which In the first line. absolutely prohibited the issuance of such visas to Jews. without regard for their nationality. Involved were thousands of persons of the Jewish faith. from all the countries already invaded. and who had already been persecuted In Germany and In other countries which were forced to adhere to the German forces. The claimant estimated that he ought not to obey such prohibitive instruction inasmuch as he considered It unconstitutional in virtue of Article 8.