OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
Geneva, October 7, 1941.
xen 132, rue de Lausanne.
GRADUATE INSTITUTE A
WER/AG.
LI,
”
| Dear Dr. Johnson:
[ Dr. Hans Mayer, a former student of this Institute, who
| is at present detained at a labor camp for refugees in Switzerland,
| writes that several of his friends in New York, including Professor
Whitton, are endeavoring to persuade you to invite him to your
school and that you seemed favorably inclined towards his candi-
dacy. He asks me to support Whitton's recommendation.
I do this very gladly as I look upon Mayer as an excep-
tionally gifted scholar. He is one of those all too rare cases
whose scholarship is not only the result of conscientious work,
but in whose make-up there is also a spark of genius. If you
should find it possible to make a place for Mayer on your staff,
you would both be doing an act of mercy in favor of a German Jew-
ish refugee who has had his full load of suffering in the course
/ of the last years and save for historical science a truly excep-
tional man.
es
If you would care to have any further information con-
cerning Mayer who, I understand, is already well known both at
your School and at the Rockefeller Foundation, you would always
find me delighted to supply you with it.
With renewed thanks for all you are doing for the unfor-
tunate fraction of humanity whose undeserved sufferings have been
the occasion of all my correspondence with you throughout these
years, and best wishes for the future, I am,
Yours very sincerely,
Na pfed
William E. Rappard.
Dr. Alvin Johnson
Director, New School for Social Research
66 West 12th Street
New York, N.Y.
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Extract of an letter
GRAMJATE INSTITUTE
OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES Geneva, October7, 1941
132 rue de Lausanne.
Dear Dr. Johnson!
Dr. Hams Mayer, a former student of this Institute, who is at
present detained at a labor camp for refugees in Switzerland, writes
that several of his friends in New York, including Professor Whitton, are
endeavoring to persuile you to invite him to you School and that you seemed
favorably towards his candidacy. He asks me to support Whitton's recommen-
dation.
I do this very gladly as I look upon Mayer as an exceptionally gifted
scholar. He is one of those too rare cases whose scholarship is not only
the result of conscientious work, but in whose make-up there is also a spark
of genius. If you should find it possible to make a place for Mayer on your
staff, you would bothe be doing an act of mercy in favor of a German Jewish
refugee who has had his full load of suffering in the course of the last
years and save for historical science a truly exceptional man.
Yours very sincerely,
(Signed)
Willaim £, Rappard.
Dr. Alvin Johnson
Director, New School for Social Research
66 West 12 Street
New York, N. Y.
DR H. W. SCHWERIN
'
15 East 86 St.
New York, Ae 2s
October 6, 1942
Mrs. E. Staudinger
New School, Annex
21 West 12 St.
New York, Ne Ye
Dear Mrs. Staudinger:
In answer to our telephone conversation of this after-
noon, I would like to advise you of the following facts
concerning Dr. Hans Mayer.
IT do not have a curriculum vitae despite repeated re-
guess for same. However, I am in possession of the
following information: Dr. Mayer is about 55 years
old; doctor o : hy and law; author of various
exellent articles on jur —“sociological,and liter-
ary subjectSs—Before Hitler came to power he was a
lecturer at Cologne. After that he was forced to leave
Germany because of racial persecution. He then went to
Geneva, about his work there Professor Whiton will be
able to give an exact report. Before the outbreak of the
war Dr. Mayer lectured at Paris, I believe.
For years now he has been sent from on of the so called
"work-camps " to another and has been forced to do work
that he is unable to endure morally and physically for
an indefinite time.
Since in his writings he attacked the Hitler regime he
fears that under the present circumstances he might be
returned to Germany.
His present address is not known to me; I think it would
be best for you to forward the letter to Professor
Rappart, Director of the Institute Universitair des
Hautes Internationales, Geneva, Switzerland. However,
to make certain the letter reaches his destination, it
might be advisable to send a copy of the letter to his
publisher, Dr. Emil Oprecht, Baeme Strasse 5, Zuerich,
Switzerland.
I hope this information will prove valuable in rescuing
Dr. Mayer.
Very truly yours, ~
Dre Hans W. Sehwerin
Dictated by Dr. Schwerin
but signed in his absence.
HWS inte
CURRICULUM VITAE
NAME Mayer, Hans
DATE OF BIRTH 0. 1907
WATIONALITY forneviy Gernen
FAMILY
FIELD Philosophy and law
ACADEMIC POSTS HELD
Lecturer, University of Cologne, Germany
PUBLICATIONS AND OTHER ACHIZVEMENTS
Studied at the Graduate Institute of International Studies.
Lectured in Paris.
Author of various excellent articles on juridical, sociological
and literary subjects.
LANGUAGES French, German, English
REFERENCES Professor J. B. Whitton, Professor W. B, Rappard
PRESENT «.DDRESS
c/o Professor Rappart, Director of the Institute Uni-
versitair des Hautes Internationales, Geneva, Switzerland.
| o 2. Address: Dr, Emil Optecht, Baeme Strasse 5, Zuerich, Switzer
ADDITIONAL REMARKS land, who is his publisher.
Dear Dr. Hambro:
have your letter of May 4th about
fr Mayer.) From the record as you give it,
he is not_elirible for a nonequota visa, and
; be very doubtful that a man who had
pene an a a tn
sieoye@ ie
been active in the communist party would get
any kind of visa for the United States.
I fear I should be unable to help
him even if I still had resources at my come
mand. We have issued so many invitations that
wo have virtually reached the limit of the
‘Foundation's grant.
Sincerely,
Alvin Johnson,
AJ? bvilh
Dy. lidvard Hambreo,
Department of History,
Horthwestern University,
College of Liberal Arts,
vanston, [liinois.
Dr.| H. W. Schwerin August 5, 1941.
‘
5
:
‘
‘
VOMCD ANY LHASA AAHTT
THDPEUUEY LORNA TTT
Che Sularane
on
j
PARK AVENUE ano 6774 STREET ( (
NEW YORK \ { es J 2
My dear Professor Whitton:
I am taking the liberty of
writing to you having received a letter
from Dr. Hans Mayer from Geneva a few _
days ago in which he asked me to tell you
howgreatly he would appreciate your help
with his immigration to the ‘United States.
Hans Mayer is in a very sad
Situation in Switzerland. Not only does
he feel endangered politically but also
financially since the institute of Hork-
heimer was closed a short time azo.
I know that it is very diffi-
cult right now for anybody to come to America
but I hope that you,my dear Professor Whitton,
will find a way of help.
Trusting that I am not causing
you too much trouble I remain
Yours very sincerely
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY bea
School of Public and International Affairs
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
PRINCETON LISTENING CENTER
Study of Political Broadcasting
August 10, 1941
Lr. Alvin Johnson, Yirector
New School for Social Research
New York City
Lear Lr. Johnson:
I thank you very much for your
recent letter, setting forth the principles
governing the choice of refugees for aid by
your institution, and I quite understand why
Professor Scelle, suggested by me, could not
come within the purview of your regulations.
May 1 bring, to your attention another
case? This is that of| Dr. Hans Mayer of Genevay-ya
wage for two years was member of my seminar at
the Rappard School. He was the most brilliant man
at the institute Raprard, possessing an extraordinary
synthesis of philosopy, history ana law, and was
very highly regarded by all his professors, especiaily
by Kelsen, Rappard and Bourquin. I am sure tnat
any assistance you could give him would bear rich
fruit. J understand that his present situation
in Switzerland is very precarious. it enclose
herewith a letter just received from vr. H.W.
Sehwerin of New York, telling of vr. Mayer. He
is also well khown to Edvard Hambro, and I
understand that one of his former professors, Dr,
Pitman Potter, 4 soon be in this country.
Very sincerely yours,
GALLE
John B. Whitton
Mae
we Oe ce 8
Bxtract from letter to Dr. Johnson from John B. Whitton
Princeton University, Princeton Listening Center
School of Public and International Study of Political Broadcasting
Affairs,
Princeton, New Jersey. August 10, 1941.
Dr. Alvin Johnson, Director,
New School for Social Research,
New York City.
Dear Dr. Johnson!
Dr. Hans Mayer of Geneva was for two years 4 member of ny
seminar at the Rappard School. He was the most brilliant man
at the Institute Rappard, possessing an extraordinary synthesis
of philosophy, history and law, and was very highly regarded by
all his professors, especially by Kelsen, Rappard and Bourquin.
I am sure that any assistance you could give him would bear rich
fruit. I understand that his present situation in Switzerland
is very precarious. I enclose herewith a letter just received
from Dr. He We Schwerin of New York, telling of Dr. Mayer, He
is also well known to Edvard Hambro, and I understand that one
of his former professors, Dr. Pitman Potter, will soon be in
this country.
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) John B. Whitton
—
Augast 20, 1941.
Dear Professor Whitton:
In May I had a letter from Sdward EZanbro, who
suggested that I invite Dr. Hans Mayer of Geneva. I had
to answer Dr. Hambro that according to the record which
he gave me, Dr. Mayer does not seem to be eligible for a
nonequota vise and that therefore I unfortunately was
not able to invite hin.
I am very sorry that there is nothing I can
add to this. ,
Sincerely,
Alvin Johnson,
Direct OF.
blh
Professor John 3B, Whitton,
Princeton University,
School of Public and International Affairs,
s Prineston, New Jersey.
In Copyright