i | iF Athen 3, OL.
{
}
‘ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT :
THE LORD RUTHERFORD OF NELSON, 0.M., F.R.S. 12, CLEMENT’S INN PASSAGE
HON. SECRETARIES :
SIR WM. H. BEVERIDGE, K.C.B. CLARE MARKET
PROFESSOR C. S. GIBSON, F.R.S. LONDON, W.C.2
HON. TREASURER :
PROFESSOR MAJOR GREENWOOD, F.R.S.
GEN. SECRETARY : TELEPHONE: HOLzorN 0731
WALTER ADAMS, B.A. TELEGRAMS ; ASSISTAC, ESTRAND
20th December, 1936.
Dr. Walter M. Kotschnig,
58, Kensington Avenue,
Northampton,
Mass,
U.5.A.
Dear Kotschnig,
At the beginning of November Ur. Kittredge
called to see Demuth and myself and said that he received
a number of applications for grants to subsidize studies of
the refugee problem; for instance from Professor Kulischer
on its historical aspects and from Dr. Oppenheimer on its
legal aspects. He said that the Foundation could not make
grants for these uncoordinated projects but if a responsible
and systematic scheme for a general study of the problem
of refugees and stateless people were submitted to the
Foundation it might receive favourable consideration.
Demuth and I discussed this informally with
Kittredge and agreed that such a scheme could best be
sponsored by the Royal Institute of International Affairs,
and with Mr. Kittredge's approval I submitted the matter
to the Royal Institute. I enclose a copy of my letter of
the 7th November.
In the informal discussion Mr. Kittredge said that
if the scheme came to anything it might provide some temporery
work for some of the displaced German scholars. Denuth has
talked the matter over with some of his German colleagues in
London and they have produced 2a brief memorandum on the
subject, a copy of which I enclose. This memorandum was sent
privately to Mr. Kittredge who forwarded the covy to the New
York office of the Foundation and a copy was also sent to the
Royal Institute. :
The Royal Institute accepted the suggestion and
made a formal application to the Rockefeller Foundation for
a financial grant. This application has been considered in
New York and 4& final decision will be taken on it at the next
meeting in the middle of January.
I have not seen the application made by the Royal
Institute so do not know how big is the scheme which they
envisage, but when I discussed the matter privately with the
secretary, Mr. Ivison Macadam, he thought it would best be done
by a group of full-time specialists in the same way as the
African survey is now being undertaken under the auspices of
the Royal Institute.
I do not know if you can do anything in
New York to secure a favourable decision by the Rockefeller
Foundation, but I am sure it is very important that you
Should know about this application.
Yours sincerely,
(Jeu en
GENERAL SECRETARY
COEX .
7th November, 1936.
The Secretary,
Royal Institute of International Affairs,
Chatham House,
16, St. Jame's Square,
D ote a
Dear sir,
I understand from Mr. Kittredge of the Paris
office of tne Rockefeller Foundation that he is frequently
aoo0roachec by persons who wish the Foundation to assist
various studies of the refugee problem, hut that the
Foundation cannot supoort such uncoordinated schemes.
The Foundation could, if at all, suvzort only a com-
prehensive investigation of a purely scientific character
on an international basis. |
The need for such a survey is urgent. There is
not available a body of systematic and accurate information
concerning the position of refugees (Russian, German,
Saarlanders, Armenians, Assyrians, Italian, Spanish and
others), of "stateless persons", and p@litically "surolus"
populations or minorities. The inadequate statistical
and other studies so far made are not related to the more
general questions of population growth and stability; to
the questions of the political and economic absorbtive
capacity of various territories; to the sociological
questions of the causes of displacement or possibilities
of settlement of these grounds.
Government authorities and »srivate agencies are
daily faced with the administrative tasks of dealing with these
persons, but have to determine their actions without the
guidance of the fundamental information which would give
constructive finality and economy to their efforts. Lt
must be assumed that the number of such persons will increase
with the solidifying of their present constituent members (e.g.
the Jewish population in Poland). The Assembly of the League
of Nations has resolved -— a resolution frecuently reaffirmed -
that the Nansen Office shall be abolished at the end of 1938,
and it is probable that the High Commission for German
Refugees will disaooe r at the same time. In the summer of
1938 the League and/or individual governments will, therefore,
be compelled to formulate policies for the future orotecthon
of stateless and other emigrés, but, unless a fundamental
survey is started now, will have to take their decisions
Without expert knowledge or full information.
I suggest that it is precisely the function 66 an
organisation like the Royal Institute of International Affairs
to anticivate the need for the orovision of such information
and to initiate a plan for a comorehensive survey. No other
body has the same authority, imoartiality or experience,
or could so appropriately ssonsor (with financial assistance
from the Rockefeller Foundation) a scientific study of the
problem.
' The survey would need to have wider but more
precise terms of reference than the study of International
Migrations edited for the American National Bureau of
Fconomic Research Inc. by Mr. W.F. Willcox in 1929-31, for
: it would have to include such topics as:-
Historical surtey of migrations and settlements since
1840.
summary of studies on population contraction or exvoansion
tendencies in contemporary world.
sociological study of "detachable"groups of population
in national states.
Statistical analysis of the refugee and stateless peoples
(age-groups; professional distribution; etc.)
Legal aspects (juridical status; international protection;
consular services; exclusive labour legislation or
regulations by trades unions and professional organisations;
immigtation laws; etc.)
otudy of the technique and sociological aspects of group
or individual settlement (inter-Imperial immigration
experience; immigration in U.S.A; group settlements in
Latin America and U.S.S.R.; etc).
Study of economic possibilities and needs of population
absorption in vatious regions.
If the Roya#& Institution decided in principle that
it could sponsor such a survey, I suggest that it might take
steps to staet immediately a preliminary investigaGion of the
work which would be required for the main survey, e.g. |
bibliographys, summary of related studies in progress, formulation
of terms of reference, and estimate of budgetafy needs. One
investigator, with clerical assistance and a financial grant
not exceeding £250, could complete this preliminary work in
three months, and present a memorandum which could serve as
the basis for detailed plans for the survey which would have
to be undertaken on a cooverative basis.
Yours faithfully,
GENERAL SECRETARY
=
oe
ed
ae | THE REFUGEE PROBLEM
UTLINE OF 4
OBJECT i8D DIVi
PROGRAMME OF |
SION OF THE Wo!
The emigration of religious, politics1 and ethnological =.
minorities hes assumed ever increasing proportions sinee the
World War, and is lixely to continus to do so in the nesr
future. Nowadays when, in nany inportant countries, unemploy-
ment has become chronic anc has led to a liritaticon on
imnigration and on isbour peruits for forelgners, etc., the
constant new iniive x es of refugees presents a serious econonie
problem, quite apsrt from the political dangers, the
destruction ef cultural vslues and the human misery which ere
involved.
The measures which have been taken up to now by inter-
nationsl institutions and by some countries with 2 view to
solving the difficulties, have proved inedeguate. In order 4
to creosote more effective seasures an attempt should be made
to study the refugee problem as « whole and to seek out ell
possible means for solving it.
fo begin with it is necessary to give a numerical idea
of the present emigration snd its Likely extent in the future,
its econouic aspect anc its wsedisnn tonal structure. This must
be comapleteé by a survey <s to the possibilities of existence
in the different countries for the members of the verious
professions, in perticuisr the possibiilties or colonisstion
snd utilisation of cuelifiec experts. These together forn
the subiect of this enguiry, the neture of which nust be at
once practical, ceonoule and statistical. fhe experiencefof
oigretions in genersi should be toxen into consiceration,
though the ectual subject of this encuiry is refugee
emigration in its narrower sense, 1.2%. the expulsion of people
: oe
1h
a
o
?
purpose
. /SESSEEREESE.
nT
WV
i? 0)
=
~— ae
tn
+
a
ee et
os
Introduction. i prorrtion p jernrtr
Ks Need for Comprehensive Survey. ea
Primary consideration is that fate of thousands of men,
women and children is involved in finding adequate solution of
refugee problem. in any discussion or survey this moral issue
must be fundamental - other aspects, though important, are secondary.
Among other aspects:-
(a) Capital wastage of skill etc. involved in keeping these
gboups of people in abnormal conditions.
(b) Physical wastage and in some cases possibility of
disease etc.
(c) Political irritant that the refugees constitute - in
themselves and as a controversial item in League policy.
(d) Economic dislocation, in labour markets etc.
(e) Diversion and interruption of normal philanthropic
and humanitarian activities.
(
The refugees form one of the items of political, economic
and, above all, human untidiness in the European states-system.
Solution possible only if comprehensive body of accurate knowledge
avaihable.
Why undertake survey at present time?
(a) League has decided to close Nansen Office and German High
Commission by S5lst. December 1938; therefore, need for full
information by Spring 1938 to assist in formulating new policy
(b) There are signs of a restarting of general migration,
new attitude to population questions, and some relaxation of
immigration restrictions; opportune moment, therefore, for providing
detailed information concerning refugees,
(c) The increasing number of refugees - Cee further migration
of German Jews and "non-Aryans"; Spanish refugees - ageravate
existing refugee problem and demand new action.
(d) The possibility of panic migrations in future - CeSe from
Danzig; Jews from Poland, Austria or Roumania - requires anticipatory
study to prevent or control.
(e) In the absence of any comprehensive study, efforts of
both official and private organisations not properly focussed or
economized.
(f) Inaccurate information - eee exaggerated numerical
estimates - is delaying solution, by creating unfounded prejudice
and fear.
Be Scope and Definition of SuLrVeye
(a) Definition.
Existing technical definitions in Arrangement of 12th. May 19286,
Arrangement of 30th. June 1928, League Council decision of May 1955,
and Provisional Arrangement of 4th. July 1936,
Limitations of these definitions:-
I. Refer only to Russien, Armenian, Assyrian, Assyro-Chaldean
and assimilated refugees, Turkish, Saarlanders and refugees coming
from Germany.
Iie Do not include certain groups such as Hungarian, Italian,
Spanish and Assyrian.
Tite Exclude many of the refugees from Germany.
IV. Exclude certain special categories, €eg- Russian refugee
who has acquired but lost another nationality.
Impossible therefore to confine survey to refugees falling
within technical vefugees.definitions.
Survey, for practical reasons, must be limited (a) to refugees
from European countries (i.e. exclude refugees in Chinese, Para-
guayan or Abyssinian wars, for instance), (b) to political and
religious refugees (i.e. exclude refugees from famines, floods,
earthquakes etc.)
Attempted definition of "refugee" for purpose of survey.
Since the League has assumed responsibility for the Assyrian
refugees, it will be désirable to include them, but for practical
reasons to study them separately and not in the general course of
the survey chapters.
(b) Estimated size of the existing refugee problem.
Official statistics of "Nansen" refugees, and refugees from
Germany e Inadequacy of statistics. Attempted estimate of other
refugee groups - Italian, Spanish etc.
(c) Potential refugees.
Survey not concerned with general demographic problems of
migration, "overpopulation", etc. except as these have direct
bearing on refugee guestion. survey should include, however,
study of those politico-population situations which might create
further refugees, @ege Danzig, and, particularly, the position of
Jews in Poland, Austria, Roumania etc.
(d) Stateless persons.
le Some of the legal problems raised by statelessness are
similar to those raised by existence of refugees, but other aspects
of stateless persons - economic, social, pditical, etc. = often
quite dissimilar.
Se It is frequently proposed that legal and political pro-
tection of refugees (e.g. Nansen Office; Convention of 1933)
should be extended to stateless persons as such. It is doubtful,
however, if even in the legal sphere this is the only or the
politically wisest solution. Other methods of dealing with refugee
problem (e.g. emigration, colonization etc.) are not relevant for
treatment of statelessness problem as suche
Se Although there is much legal study of statelessness, there
are few studies of a statistical, economic, social or political
nature. To include stateless persons as such in the survey in
addition to refugees would entail a great amount of further researche
4. As for practical reasons connected with the League decision
to close the Nansen Office it is desirable to complete the refugee
survey by Spring 1958, it would be unwise to expand the terms of
reference to include statelessness as such if this might delay
publicatione
Se If the terms of reference are not confined strictly to
refugee problems, the survey might develop discussion of other
related problems, @egeminorities, and lose coherence.
For above considerations, it seems wise to exclude statelessness
problem as such from study, but this decision should not be final
in case survey shows combined treatment to be essential. Material
on statelessness should therefore be collected, either for inclusion
or for subsequent separate treatmente
Within these broad limitations survey should treat refugee
problem from all aspectse
Oe ee
= hl = ——— ll
Ege g
PLAN OF SURVEY.
le Historical Introduction.
(a) Descriptive account of refugee movements since approximately
1840 until 1917 - including causes, numbers involved, social
structure and origins, geographical distribution.
(b) Analytical account of these movements:-
ae methods of migration.
_. |ff be methods of settlement (including attitudes of mcg of
refuge.
Ce permanency of settlement and absorptione
de repatriation (including efferts of repatriation).
ee effects of countries of origin (economic, political,
cultural )e
f. effects on countries of settlement (economic, political,
cultural).
ge theories concerning refugee movementsSe
(c) Relation of refugee movements to general migration movements
1840 = 1917.
ae Statistical.
be Coincidence or non=-coincidence le in time
cee in geographical distrib-~
ution.
Ce Political and social relations of refugees with previous
non refugee emigrants.
(d) Descriptive account of refugee movements since 1917 including
causes, numbers involved, social structure and origins,
geographical distribution.
a@ae Russian.
be Armenian.
ce Greek-Turkish exchange.
de Balkan.
e. Assyro-Chaldean and “assimilated”.
f. Italiane
Se Germane
he Austriane
i.e Saarlender.
je Spanish.
(e) Chronological account of action by League and Iel.0e, including
description (not analysis) of Legal instruments.
(f) Brief account of attitudes and activities of countries
of refuge Since 1917, especially France and UeSeAe
7
| fn oe W ¥ =~ Gg tei
v3 C4Hytrwe et GO
j
Ile
(a)
The Existing Refugee Probleme
Statistical analysise
Ad
etailed census of refugees must be undertaken and results
summarized both under groups of refugees according to origin, and
under general subjects, and under both categories combined - ie@.
for instance, total number of Russians, total number of medical
(b)
pene : a
(c)
Amo
* doctors, total number of Russian medical doctors.
ng the subjects to be analysed statistically are:-
Total numbers.
Sex distribution.
Age groupse
Geographical distribution.
Occupational distribution (both before emigration and after).
Unemployment and unemployability.
Economic resources, income etCe
Degree of absorption.
Capacity for retraining or emigration.
Marriage, inter-marriagee
Birth rate, fertility etce
Death rate, suicide etc.
Health, incidence of disease etc.
Crime,legal offences etce
Identity papers, naturalization etce
Description of existing administrative machinery.
(1)
(3)
League.
Ie Nansen Office. Statutese
Staff, budget etc (including local
representatives )
Method of worke
Financial administration - Nansen
stamps, memorial fund, loans etce
Iie German High Commissione
Statutese
Staff, budget etce
Method of work.
Comparison with previous German
: High Commissione
IIlIev Activities of League secretariat in relation to
refugee work. Organization for Assyrian refugees.
IV. Activities of I.L.0. in relation to refugee work.
Governmentale
Representative examples, not exhaustive description,
of governments! administrative work in relation to
refugees =- aliens departments of ministries of interior,
ministries of labour, police, frontier control etce
Private Organisations
Representative examples, not exhaustive.
Ie International.
TI. National.
IIIe Organizations of refugees. :
Budgets, methods of work, scope, political or religious
restrictions etce
Analysis of existing refugee problem.
le
Political aspectse
(a) Political attitude and activities of countries
of origin in relation to refugeese
IVe Legal Aspects.
(a) Nature of Problem.
(1) Retention of previous rights.
Nationality and citizenship.
Banishment, denationalization and denaturalization.
Former property righbs, insurance, pensions etce
Political protection (access to consuls etc.e).
(2) identity.
Rights of asylam, residence and domicile.
Expulsion and repatriation.
Right of travel.
(3) Right to work. |
Right to public relief, education and social service
benefits.
Military service.
Taxation.
(4) Status in civil law.
Marriage, divorce, adoption.
Property and inheritance.
Litigation.
(5) Naturalization.
(b) Present Position.
(1) Identity documents.
(2) Travel documents.
(3) Juridical rights.
(4) Expulsion.
(5) Right to work.
(c) Full analysis of the Convention of 1933.
(d) Existing emigration and immigration laws, and naturalization
lawse Not exhaustive - general summary with represent-
ative examples, and detailed mention of exceptions or
favourable provisions for refugees.
(e) Application and administration of existing arrangements,
conventions and lawse
(d) Assyrian Refugees.
Separate discussion - historical, political etc. social
characteristics, League, British and French action and
attitude. Proposed solutions. Present situation.
(e) Possible developments of refugee probleme
General reference to contemporary demographic problemse
"Surplus" population groups and insecure political minorities
(Balkans, Danzig, Spain etc.e).
Possibility of further Jewish refugee migrations - Germany
(Jews and "“non-Aryans"), Poland, Raumania etc.
\A¥ Causes of possible migrations.
| Social, economic and age structure of the "surplus" groups.
(f) Summary of the present and potential refugee probleme
Jil.
Solutions.
(a) Historical description of previous solutions (particularly
since 1917)
(1) Prevention. Minority protection.
Intervention.
(2) Repatriation.
(5) Naturalization in countries of refuge (with specid ref-
erence to second generation)
|
(4) Assimilation without naturalization (with special
reference to U.S. experience in assimilation of refugee
immigrants).
(5) Settlements. Greek.
Armeniane
Russians in Paraguay.
Jews in Brazil etc.
Palestine.
Other settlements.
(b) Critical description of proposed solutions.
(1) Prevention (with special reference to potential refugees,
€eg- Polish Jewry).
Intervention =- technique etc.
Minérity protection.
Reshaping social structure of Jewry.
Internal colonization (e.g. Poland).
Controlled emigration.
(2) Repatriation. Physical repatriation.
Reacquisition of nationality and
protection of country of origin.
(3) Naturalization in countries of residence.
(4) Assimilation without naturalization in countries o
residencee 3
Legal and political protection.
Economic and social absorption.
(5) Further emigration wi th view to permanent settlement.
General reference to migration trends, and to effects
‘of encouragement or prohibition of immigfation on
production and internal and external consumption.
Refugee migration - Infiltration.
Group settlement.
Colonization.
Retraining schemes.
Analysis of schemes proposed (population needs, occup=
ational needs, economic possibilities, capital
requirements, political protection etc.) esge:-
Palestine and Trans-Jordan.
South America (Argentine, Ecuador,
Columbia etce).
Russia (including Birobidgan).
Africa (Kenya, Tanganyka, Angola etc.).
Other mandated territorye
British Empire.
Uses eA
CTCe
(a)
General analysis of possibilities of further
migration (individual or group) with special reference
to occupational needse
General principles underlying further migration
(degree of capital development in relation to pop-
ulation development etc.)and determining methods
(health inspection, personnel selection, leadership,
validity of contracts, political protection etc.)
Summary of proposed solutions.
Procedural questions.
le
Administrative
Possible changes in League organization.
(a) To continue Nansen Office and German High
Commission after 1958, in same or modified
form, and to create new commissions for
each new group of refugees, or to apportion
new groups to existing organse
Difficulties (e.g. unanimous vote required)
and advantages.
(ob) To close Nansen Office and German High
Commission and allow, according to previous
decision, legal and political responsibility
to fall on League secretariate
Disadvantagese
(c) To create a new League organ for all existing
and future refugee questions. suggestions
concerning statutes; relationship to
Leagues; autonomy of staff; budget; sub-
departments; local "consular" represent-
atives; etce
Disadvantages and advantages,
(da) To delegate all responsibility, legal,
political and humanitarian to:-
A non-League organization of governments.
A non-League organization of private bodies,
A combination of both.
Difficulties (e.g. existing fiundw and credits,
enforcement of legal arrangements) and
advantagese
(4) To delegate responsibility to International
Labour Office.
Discussion of interests of governments in isolated
action and in collaboration through or outside
Le€aguee
Discussion of interests of private organizations
in isolated action and in collaboration through or
outside League.
The interests of the refugees in relation to
possible future organization.
Ile
lite
IVe
Legal.
Possibility of ratification of Convention of 1933;
disadvantages, difficulties and advantages;
Medifications of 1933 Convention. Methods of
enforcement.
Possibility of new convention - provisions to be
included (a) essential, (b) desirable.
Advantages and disadvantages of separate conventions.
Financial.
Possibility of government financial assistance
(a) for reTief (b) for emigration (c) for
settlement.
Possibility of loans, annuit schemes and revolving
funds (a) through League (D) outside League.
Further means of obtaining financial help (eeg. for
Special groups - Assyrian, or categories - academic).
Coordination of fundse
Political.
Action which governments could take with or
without central League or non-League organe
Naturalization. Labour permits. Domestic admin-
istrative reforms. etce
I¥.- Conclusions and Recommendations.
The interests of refugees.
Ve Stateless Persons.
An appendix on the main elements in the problem of stateless
persons if the problem is not treated in the survey itself,
Special reference to its relation to refugee problem and to
League policy and organizatione
Il. Existing Administrative Organis
onficential. | Informél meeting at Oxford.
4
13th November 1937.
(Documentation)
Displaced University Teachers.
ation.
The existing machinery for assistance to displaced
university teachers has its origin in the efforts made in 1933 to
provide help to the scholars and scientists who were being
dismissed from their posts in Germany because of their Jewish
descent or "political unreliability". The emergency was so
unexpected and unprecedented that ad hoc committees were formed in
many countries without reference to action taken elsewhere and there
was no body of experience in existence to guide the policies of the
committees. Within a year the work had been co-ordinated within
each country and internationally, but the machinery remained
essentially a loose federation of national committees and not an
international organisation with national sub-committees.
The work of these committees to assist German refugee
scholars from 1933 until March 1935 is described in a report
(attached: Annex I) entitled "A Crisis in the University World".
At that time more than a quarter of a million pounds had been
raised, and the work was well co-ordinated through the Experts
Committee under the auspices of the High Commissioner for Refugees
(Jewish and other) coming from Germany, Mr. James G. McDonald, and
oy the liaison work of Dr. Walter Kotschnig. |
Mr. McDonald resigned his post as High Commissioner in
December 1935, and the Experts Committee disappeared. Through
the initiative of the American Emergency Committee, the services
of Dr. Kotschnig were retained for the greater part of the
following year in order to preserve international collaboration in
the academic assistance work. After his appointment to 2 University
position in the U.S.A., Dr. Kotschnig could not continue this work.
After Mr. McDonald's resignation the League of Nations
appointed Sir Neill Malcolm as High Commissioner for Refugees from
Germany. He created an advisory liaison committee of the private
organisations assisting German refugees; only two of the
organisations represented on this are concerned directly with
academic assistance work, the Society for the Protection of Science
and Learning and the Notgemeinschaft Deutscher Wissenschaftler im
Ausland. As these two organisations share the same office in
London and are in daily co-operation there has been no need for them
to create a special sub-committee of the liaison body to deal with
academic refugees.
The disappearance of the Experts Committee was due chiefly ©
not to the administrative changes in the High Commission but to
the rapid weakening of the constitutent member organisations.
By the summer of 1938 most of the committees found their financial
resources exhausted, the opportunities of raising fresh funds
restricted, and the chances of establishing more German scholars
within their own countries insignificant. some of the Committees
disappeared compietely (e.g. the Comité des Savants in France after
the death of Professor Sylvain Lévi); some were merged into the
organisations for general refugee relief (e.g. the Academisch
Steufonds in Holland); others continued to maintain the German
1.
oI
scholars for whom they were previously responsible but were unable
to support more (e.g. the committees in Scandinavia). Apart from
nélp for refugee scholars provided indirectly by the general relief
agencies, Jewish and non-Jewish, there are now only four committees
which can provide assistance to German academic refugees who have
not yet found support outside Germany, viz (1) Society for the
Protection of Science and Learning (London) (2) Notgemeinschaft
Deutscher Wissenschaftler im Ausland (London) (3) Comité Francais
pour l'Accueil et l'Organisation du Travail des Savants Etrangers
Paris) (4) Emergency Committee in Aid of ™isynl.ced Gtrmen scholars
New York). The work of these bodies is as follows:-
Society for Learning.
the Protection of Science and
Founded as the Academic Assistance Council, under the
presidency of the late Lord Rutherford, in May 1933, this committee
adopted its present title in January 1937 for legal convenience but
without in any way modifying its purposes. These were defined in
its first statement as the assistance of "University teachers and
investigators of whatever country wno, on grounds of religion,
political opinion, or race are unable to carry on their work in
their own country", by raising funds for their maintenance and by
creating a centre of information to put them in touch with
institutions that could best help them. |
The Vice-Chairmen are Sir Frederic Kenyon and
Professor A.V.Hill, the Honorary pecretaries, Sir William Reveridge
and Professor C.S.Gibson, and the Honorary Treasurer, Professor M.
Greenwood. By public appeals to University tcachers, to the
general public by press, post and wireless, through local
committees, by arrangements with existing trusts, organisations and
industries it has raised a total of approximately £75,000. Most
of this has been used to give maintenance grants (at the rate of
£290 pea. for a married person, and £182 p.a. for a single person)
to displaced scholars for whom temporary academic hospitality has
been provided in a British university or research institution, but
part nas been used in grants for travelling expenses for scholars
appointed to positions overseas, for visits of enquiry by displaced
scholars to countries that may offer opportunities of employment,
for fees for lectures, grants for the expenses of publication of
books, etc. The Society through an Academic Assistance Trust has
also established four research fellowships of the value of £450 p.a.
tenable by displaced scholars. The Society has an income from
membersnip subscriptions of approximately £2,700 annually, and a
free balance for the year ending 3lst July 1938 of approximately
£2,000. It is maintaining directly or indirectly 80 displaced
scholars.
From its foundation it has maintained a central
information service, containing full details about all displaced
scholars, whether refugees or not, and has also maintsined an
employment information service.
Notgemeinschaft Deutscher Wissenschaftler im Ausland.
This is a mutual assistance organisation founded by the
displaced German scholars themselves in 1933, with headquarters
originally. at Zurich. but since 1935 in London. It has local
offices in Istanbul, Zurich and New York. Its chairman is
Dr. Fritz Demuth, and its other directors are Professor Max Born,
Professor Karl Brandt, Professor de Wises, Professor Phillip
ochwartz and Professor F. Simon. It is not s fund-raising
OO
e
ee ee ee ee ee
organisation but essentially a place-finding and information
service; it is maintained by contributions from the scholars placed
through its agency. Tts assistance is not confined to displaced
German university teachers, but is extended also to other German
> experts, senior civil servants, professional specialists, etc.
The Notgemeinschaft was responsible for the negotiations
which led ta the appointment of over 60 German scholars to the
reorganized university of Istanbul. It has had a series of
conspicuous successes in placing German scholars in universities,
research institutions and government services, in South America,
either in groups (e.g. Panama, Colombia) or individually. By the
visit of Dr. Pemuth to the U.S.A. in the Spring of 1937, it is in
particularly close contact with American organisations. It has
also been successful in placing scholars in University institutions
of the Near East.
It published for confidential circulation to universities,
especially in U.S.A. and South America, a complete list of displaced
German scholars in the autumn of 1936, by means of a grant from the
nockefeller Foundation (copy attached: Annex II).
Comité Francais pour l'Accueil et l'Organisation du Travail
des Savants Etrangers.
This committee is not descended from the previous
Comité des Savants. It had an independent origin in May 1936
and does not confine its help to German refugee scholars but is also
assisting scientists displaced on political grounds from Portugal,
Spain, Italy and Russia. Tts President is Professor G. Urbain,
its Treasurer Professor E. Bauer, and its Secretary Professor R.
Wurmser. It has raised 188,327 French Francs by private (not
public) appeals; it has received in addition Frs. 176,132 from the
American Joint Distribution Committee. It assisted 25 scholars
during the year 1936-1927. By an arrangement with the Caisse
Nationale it has facilitated the appointment of 2 displaced
scientists as "maftres de recherches", 2 as "chargés de recherches",
and 3 as "boursiers de recherches". It is at present maintaining
10 scientists fully and 9 partially. Tts available funds are at
present Frs. 142,000 and its commitments until 3lst July 1938 total
Fre. 261,000, Because of special local conditions it is with great
difficulty able to assist scholars in the humanities, and the great
majority of its grantees are specialists in the natural sciences.
Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced German Scholars.
Founded in 1933, this committee delegated work for medical
specialists to another committee founded a year later, the
Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Physicians, and has
confined its assistance strictly to persons who previously occupied
a position in a German university. Its Chairman is President
Livingston Farrand, its Treasurer President Fred M. Stein, its
Secretary Dr. Stephen Duggan; its first Assistant Secretary was
Mr. E.R.Murrow, who was succeeded in 1936 by Professor John Whyte,
who has recently resigned. From the beginning Dr. A.E.Cohn and
Dr. Bernard Flexner have taken a leading part in the committee's work.
It has raised funds chiefly by non-public appeals, from
existing trusts, foundations, etc. It has raised a total or
é 325,543, and used this almost exclusively on maintenance grants
for displaced German scholars in American universities. Tt is not
a place-~finding organisation. Because of the special conditions
in American universities, it has not initiated the temporary
placement of a scholar, but has waited for a university to take
initiative in applying to the Gommittee for a grant to enable the
University to invite a particular German scholar. The Comirittee
3.
in reply to such applications has asked the University to assume
responsibility for the re-establishment of the scholar after a
period of not more than two “years during which he is to be
partially or wholly maintained by grants from outside sources.
The committee has worked throughout in very close
co-operation with the Rockefeller Foundation which allowed one
of its officers to attend the early meetings of the committee as
an opserver. The committee has in many cases been able to make
a matching agreement with the Foundation for the temporary
maintenance grants.
It is understood that the committee's policy at present
to maintain until re-establishment those of its present
antees who have prospects of finding positions in the near
ture but not to make grants to any further displaced Cerman
holars. It is possible however that the committee's policy
may ve changed during the present autumn as a result of the
In addition to the work of these four committees
reference must be made to assistance provided by:;:-
1. The Rockefeller Youndation.
The Foundation in the year 1933 made a.special budgetary
allocation to cover grants for displaced German scholars. As a
general rule grants from this fund to Universities were made only
on concition that they were matched by an equal amount from local
sources, and they were used for senior scholars of distinguished
reputation, or occasionally for younger men who had previously
had Rockefeller fellowships. In 1934 grants were made for a few
specially recommended younger scholars. In 1935 when the
Foundation renewed this special fund, it extended its previous
grants only on condition that the Universities giving hospitality
would undertake responsibility for appointing the German scholar
within a year or two. This fund has been recently extended for
the sole purpose of completing the arrangements for the scholars
previously assisted.
Many displaced German scholars have indirectly received
assistance from the Foundation, by finding employment on research
projects subsidized by the Foundation in the course of its normal
programme.
The Foundation has always worked through Universities or
Similar institutions and has not made grants on a personal basis to
displaced scholars.
4)
«oe The Carnegie Corporation.
The Corporation has also given assistance only through
institutions not in the form of personal grants. Through its
British Empire fund it has made grants to universities in the
British Dominions (not in mandated territories) to assist them to
appoint displaced German scholars to their staffs. These grants
have been sufficient to cover the travelling expenses entailed,
and the full salary for a period of two years. Eleven such
grants have been made.
With the exception of the Society for the Protection
of Science and Learning and the French Committee, the 7
administrative machinery described has been for the assistance
only of scholars displaced from German universities. Tnere are
apparently no institutions existing specially for the purpose of
helping exiled Italian scholars, and the committees for assisting
russian refugee scholars, such as the Union of Russian Scholars in
Exile, have not been integrated into the other administrative scheme.
Ae
Le
The Existing Problems.
A. Displaced German Scholars.
The total number of persons displaced tg University
positions in Germany since 1933 is approximately 1 yi U0, that is
about 20 per cent of the PEs pL net staffs. Half of tnese are now
ranagipen Germany and of these 60 per cent have been permanently
re-established; almost — the others outside have temporary
ini of continuing their scientific work. The dismissals have
been — three waves sta first dismissals were of Jews and
politically tunreliable" persons; the second main group of
ie aaaeeg followed the Nuremberg legislation in the zutumn of
1935 which widely extended the interpretation of the term "Jew":
the third, present, period is seeing the systematic dismissal of
persons with "Jewish" wives.
Many of the displaced scholars receive pensions (in
general if they had ten years! service) and this accounts for the
fuct that a large number have been able to remain within Germany.
The cancellation of pensions would at once lead to a considerable
emigration. General conditions in scart for the displaced
scholars, with or without pensions, or for their children,
frequently become so unbearable that they prefer emigration. A
development that is not improbable and which would lead to 2
large number of further dismissals and consequent emigration
would be a decree that only members of the National Socialist
party could occupy university posts.
some of the German scholars placed outside Germany have
lost their positions, particularly in Russia and in Spain, through
political developments which have made them refugees for a second
time.
There is, in brief, fairly satisfactory though by no
means complete provision for the scholars outside Germany; a
large group of displaced scholars inside prccioniegind "lost to scienceti
and supplying a steady stream of new refugees; and the probability
of new developments that may lead to a rapid increase in the
emigration.
B. Refugee Scholars from Spain.
The civil war in Spain led to the emigration of at least
sixty scholars, of whom not more than half were university teachers.
At first university activity was. paralysed; many scholars sought
refuge abroad either in the hope of continuing scientific work or
to escape the military and political dangers of the war; few,
however, considered that this residence abroad would be more than
temporary. Already university life has been partly revived within
spain, efforts have been made to continue scientific work
(e.g. the Casa de la Cultura of phescgaet and some university
teachers have returned. Until the war has resulted in a military
and political decision it is impos sot} Xle to estimate how many
university teachers will be ‘eames displaced, which of these
will be compelled to seek refuge abroad, and whether they will be
mainty "Left" or "right" in their politic al sympathies. It is
aiso impossible to predict what form of assistance might be needed
within Spain to rebuild university life and to prevent the
emigration of scholars.
It is clear, however, that the disorganisation of the
universities both during and after the war will create a problem
calling for academic assistance, and probably for some method of
Finding employment for Spanish scholars in Central. and South
America.
C. Refugee Scholars from Russia and Italy.
Neither of these two "old" emigrations is finished,
‘oth in the sense that scholars are still being displaced andin
certain cases seeking refuge abroad, and in the sense that many
of the scholars who could contribute significantly to learning
but have not found the means amd are still lost to science.
teachers who fled abroad after 1917. Many were absorbed in the
educational institutions which the emigration built up for itself
on the assumption that it would soon return to Russia to
participate in the reconstruction of the country after the
devastation of the revolutions; many were absorbed in the
educational institutions of the states created by the Peace Treaties
which had no native supply of intellectuals, technicians, etc.
(e.g. Yugoslavia); many found employment in institutes for
Russian and Slavonic studies which grew out of the opportunities
presented by the emigration (e.g. Berlin, Paris and London); many
founc positions individually in universities throughout the world,
particularly in the United States. Nevertheless there are many
who never succeeded in re-entering the world of organized learning
and still more whese positions have remained precarious or have
been cestroyed by subsequent economic and political developments
against which they as unprotected refugees have had weaker means
of defence than other university teachers and scholars.
There are approximately sixty scholars and scientists
among the refugees from Italy. They have received less organised
assistance than any other class of scholar exile. Apart from a
few well-known excebtions, they have not been enabled to continue
their scientific work in universities outside Italy.
Although many of the Russian and Italian refugees have
now been too long removed from scientific activity to make it
bossible to re-establish them academically, there are still some
whose qualifications would justify special external effort to
introduce them again to the university system.
D. Disnlacement of Scholars in Other Countries.
There has been no large-scale displacement of university
teachers in other countries, comparable in size to those from the
German, Spanish, Russian and Italian communities. In other
countries there are individual cases or small numbers involved;
six university teachers were displaced in Portugal in 1935, and
there had been several individual dismissals before then in various
political crises; five university teachers have recently been
penalized in Greece for alleged anti-government activities;
individual cases are reported from Turkey, Rumania end Latvia.
The chief single source of danger to university teachers
n Buropean universities is the spread of anti-semttic agitation.
is threatens the security not only of Jewish teachers but also
of those university teachers who publicly condemn end oppose the
anti-semitism. The situation is acute in Rumania, Hungary,
Lithuania and elsewhere but most dangerous in Poland. The
increasingly frequent attacks by students on Jewish students;
6.
Sl UL ee
ttempted segregation of Jewish students (e.g. the provision
ellow benches for Jews) the emergence of organised anti-
itism as a political factor in national life, and other
levelopments are rapidly creating a situation in which university
teachers will be compelled to define their attitude to the
problem (e.g. the recent protests by university teachers against
the introduction of yellow benches), will risk their own security
by so doing, and, if Jews, will be in imminent danger of
displacement.
7
ere
Cs th o
{
BE. Chinese University Teachers.
The present war in China has led not only to the
disruption of University life but also to the deliberate
destruction by the Japanese of Universities such as those of
Nankai, Nankin and Tungchi. Whatever the result of the war,
university life in China will have suffered permanent damage and
many university teachers will be prevented from continuing their
work. A special appeal has been made in Europe and the U.5.A.
by International Student Service for funds for the immediate
assistance of the Chinese university teachers and students.
The assistance that can be given at present is, however, clearly
only of a relief character; there will remain, after the
emergency, the equally urgent problem of the reconstruction of
the universities and university life. Whatever form this
reconstruction may take, the present generation of Chinese
university teachers will certainly need external heip if they are
to survive as members of the academic world.
ae ©
oummar f Past Experience.
There is an obligation to continue the work of academic
assistance not only because the problem of displaced German
scholars is incompletely solved and is now expanding, but also
because there are and will be scholars displaced in other
countries who are scientifically worthy of special help to enable
them to stay within the university world.
The work for German refugees suffered through the non-
existence of an experienced organization; the ad hoc committees
worked for a time without adequate collaboration; the committees
tended to work nationally and for instance to assist refugees
within their own country who would have more quickly been
re-established in another; assistance of a non-constructive
character (i.e. not leading directly to independent re-establish-
ment ) was given; assistance was given to scientifically
unimportant persons who, later experience has shown, were not
obliged to leave Germany or were not justified in being specially
assisted to enter the universities outside Germany. Assistance
WaS given to extremely distinguished scholars who would have
found new positions without the intervention of an assistance
organisation; there was in consequence a certain amount of
uneconomical use of funds on overheads and on unprofitable forms
of help at a time when money for the work was relatively. plentiful.
It would be an advantage to preserve the experience gained in the
past few years in order to prevent the repetition of such
technical mistakes.
The work must be conducted on an international basis,
although simultaneously provision must be made for it to be
adjusted to the peculiar conditions of each country. The
centralization of information about all the German scholars in
the files of the Notgemeinschaft and the Society for the
Protection of Science and Learning has made possible work of an
international character, has avoided much duplication of effort
and has facilitated the selection of the best available
candidates for openings.
The work is unavoidably expensive, compared with
relief work for other classes of refugees. It ts not relief
work; it is essentially an effort to achieve the temporary
expansion of the resources of the universities to enable them to
shelter and later to absorb the scholars displaced from other
parts of the university system. If the displaced university
teacher is to be preserved as a university teacher it is
essential that he should be enabled to continue scientific work
while seeking 2 new post, and this necessitates the giving of
maintenance grants of a size and for a period far in excess of
what would be justifiable as relief payments. Toe financial
needs of the work are so large that they cannot ve satisfied —
through appeals to the charitable public, or even to the charity
of university teachers themselves. Tre necessary funds will
have to be sought either from a few individuals prepared to give
substantial sums for this particular work, or from existing
trusts, foundations, etc. It is unlikely that there will occur
again the dramatic dismissal of hundreds of university teachers
such as startled public opinion in 1933 and made possible the
success of the appeals for funds for the German refugee scholars.
Further work will not have the advantage of being dramatic, or
conducted in an atmosphere of almost unanimous public and
academic opinion.
The disorderly emigration of German scholars in 1933/4
created a secondary problem (that of their more appropriate
distribution in countries of refuge) which diverted effort from
the real work of finding means of permanent re-establishment.
It would probably have been more efficient, if practicable, to
have discouraged emigration more strongly with a view to
organising the selected and controlled emigration of scholars to
appropriate posts, temporary or permanent. In any case the
strictest possible care must be exercised to avoid the creation
of refugees by facilitating emigration before it is proved to be
essential either on account of conditions inside the country of
origin, or on account of prospects of re-establishment outside.
Apart from a few exceptions (e.g. the University of
Istanbul; the New School for Social Research, New York; the
Warburg Institute, London) group settlements have not been
possible. successful re-employment of the displaced scholars
has usually resulted from intensely individualized casework: it
is clear that in the future the work must be even more
individualized, and that in consecuence international organi sation
will be effective only if it includes provision for full freedom
for local action.
that there is a special need to help the scholars
group 25 - 35. Scholars above that age have achieved a
reputation and demonstrated their quality; placement is
correspondingly easier. Men within that age-group are not
usually known beyond their own university; they are engaged
in making their first major publication, they are at the
height of their creative activity. For them even a temporary
interruption may permanently damage this scientific development;
they need a period of maintenance abroad to make them known to
specialists in their own field; the award to them of existing
university posts is more likely to arouse resentment from young
national competitors unless their academic superiority has
been proved; they usually do not have the economic resources
or reserves of unpublished work which would enable them to wait
without dangerous loss in the same way as their older colleague.
Four years! experience with the German scholars has shown that
extraordinary assistance to these younger men has proved the
most profitable and the best merited investment.
As a means of preserving learning, it has anpeared
IV. Tentative Proposals.
A. General.
It is suggested that the following propositions are
axiomatic:-
1. That the work of academic assistance must be conducted
without any political bias, and without connection to
any political policy. It is essential, for instance,
that the work should not be associated with an anti-
fascist campaign, and, for instance, that any assistance
available should be offered without political
preference to communists, national socialists, fascists
or politically neutral persons.
«e That the work must be strictly non-sectarian. La 38
essential that help should be given to displaced
scholars without regard to their religious beliefs;
that it should be available, for instance, to Jews and
non—Jews; and tnat in consequence in order to
demonstrate this publicly the membership of the
academic assistance organisations should not be
predominantly Jewish.
Lo
- That the assistance must not be confined to scholars
displaced from German institutions but must be
available for those in any country who are unable to
continue their scientific work on grounds of "race",
religion or political opinions.
4. That the assistance must not be available for scholars
unable to continue their work for purely economic
reasons unconnected with political, religious or
social developments.
That the assistance is not merely charitable relief,
but has a specifically academic character, and that
consequently it must be conducted in closest relation
to the universities, learned academies, etc., and must
be confined to scholars who previously had university
posts (i.e. it must not be extended to professional
workers, practising doctors, lawyers, etc.)
Loa:
e
Os
6. That, in any organisation established, complete autonomy
in policy, methods of work and membership must be given
to local committees in order that the activities may be
adjusted most appropriately to the special conditions of
e2cn coultry.
B. The Establishment of National or Regional Committees.
It is suggested that a practical step towards
strengthening the work for displaced university teachers would
be the creation of national committees, or the anpointment of
national correspondents, in as many countries as possible..
Wnere possible and desirable these national committees
should incorporate any existing organisations provided tnat this
does not restrict them to helping 2 particular group of displaced
scholars (e.g. Germans) and does not endanger tne non-political,
non-sectarian character of the work.
Where possible the committees should include
representatives of the universities, national academies and other
"official institutions in order that it may be demonstrated
that the responsibility of the universities is directly involved
and as a guarantee that the work is conducted on a non-political
and scientific basis.
If the. proposal for the creation of national committees
isaadopted it will be necessary to decide in detail how the
initiative in the formation of these committees in each country
is to be taken; the names of persons and institutions to be
approached; the names of persons by whom they are to be
approached: ete.
Although each committee must enjoy complete autonomy in
its own work, it may be desirable to make general suggestions
about the methods of work that could be adopted, to discuss
whether they should confine their activities to assistance within
their own country or whether they should attempt to raise funds
for assistance in other countries, whether they should give
assistance to scholars in the countries in which they are
displaced as well as to refugee scholars, etc.
C. The Establishment of an International Organisation.
—— ace IT A LLL LT CTS CH ett
Although administrative machinery must he kept as small
as possible, there will be need for e mechanisn through which the
local committees can act in co-ordinating the work.
there will be need for an international information
file and this can probably best be developed from the existing
service provided by the society for the Protection of Science and
Learning. It would be useful to decide in what ways the national
committees will send information to the central file, and in what
form they wish to receive information Prom 3 ts
There will be need for an international executive
committee, tt is important to decide whether this should be
composed of members appointed on a representative basis
(e.g. delegates from the national committees) or of members
appointed for their expert knowledge of the work. it is
probable that for efficiency the executive should consist of a
very snall group, selected on a non-representative basis, the
chairman of which should be a person of international prestige,
.
LW
10.
and also that it should have the maximum of freedom in its
action, in deciding place and time of its meetings etc. igs
should of course report fully to the national committees and be
ultimately responsible to them.
[It is probable that money placed at the disposal of
the executive committee for international work should be used in
general on a matching basis in order to ensure that its efforts
are Supported by genuine local effort. Tt would be unwise
iowever to restrict the freedom of the committee by imposing a
definite principle such as a fifty-fifty arrangement for its
grants. The committee should have a completely elastic financial
policy leaving it free if circumstances justify in moking a
lOO per cent grant.
D. Finance.
If international co-operation is established by means of
some such machinery as is outlined above, steps should be taken
immediately to prepare applications by the international body for
grants from existing foundations and trusts leaving the national
committees free to organise public or private appeals in their
own countries. It will be necessary to discuss in what form.
and by what means applications could be made to the Nobel Peace
committee, the recent Foundation in Stockholm endowed by
Mr. Axel Wenner-Gren, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Carnegie
Corporation, the Council for German Jewry, the American Joint
Distribution Committee, the Fconomic Rehabilitation Committee, etc.
Bi. Place Finding.
It is obviously desirable that hoth the national
committees and the international body should use every opportunity
at their disposal for finding places both temporary and permanent
for displaced scholars. Nevertheless in the interests of
efficiency it would be desirable that this work should be conducted
within an agreed scheme. It would be unwise for instance for
several committees to approach the same authorities, e.g. the
inbassadors of Mexico, because that would lead to confusion and
would create the impression on the authorities concerned of
confusion and of undue pressure. It will be necessary to discuss
allocated to the separate national committees and to the
F.. Publieity.,
The present meeting is entirely private and informal
and will probably decide that no public statement should be
issued about its decisions. It will be desirable however to
discuss whether it would be of advantage to the work to call a
public international meeting in the spring of 1938 by the time
that the international body: has had some experience in its work
and further national committees have been established. If such
& public meeting is called to be used partly for appeal purposes
it will be necessary to discuss what form it should take.
SOCLETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF SCIENCE AND LEARNING
(formerly Academic Assistance Council
6, Gordon Square,
an
London, W.C.1.
Informal International Meeting to consider means of assistance
to displaced University teacners. Held at the
Master's Lodgings, University College, Oxford,
on Saturday, 13th November 1937 from
10.15 ~ 12.30 and 2.30 =~ AsO.
Minutes
Present: ‘Sir William Beveridge (in the Chair)
Professor Norman Bentwich (Council for German Jewry)
Dr. Fritz Demuth (representing the Notgemeinschaft
Deutscher Wissenschaftler im Ausland)
Professor Albert P. Dustin (Belgium)
Dr. Simon Flexner (representing the National Academy
of Sciences, Washington, D.C.)
Professor Aage Friis (representing Den Danske Komité
Til St@tte for Landflygtige
Aandsarbejdere, Denmark)
Professor C.S.Gibson (representing the Royal Society)
Professor A.V.Hill (Society for the Protection of
Science and Learning)
Professor F. Joliot-Curie (Comité Frangais pour 1'Accueil
et l'Organisation du Travail des
: Savants Etrangers, France)
Professor C. Liljestrand (Sweden)
Dr. Louis Rapkine (Comité Frangais pour l'Accueil
: et l'Organisation du Travail des
Savants Etrangers, France)
Mr. Walter Adams
Miss Esther Simpson
Sir William Beveridge was elected Chairman of the meeting.
He thanked the delegates from foreign countries for coming to
Oxford to attend the meeting. Delegates were allowed to speak
in English, French or German.
Professor Gibson reported that the meeting was a private and
informal one and had been called by the Society for the
Protection of Science and Learning jointly with the Comité
Francais pour l'Accueil et 1'Organisation du Travail des
Savants Etrangers after conversations initiated by the French
Committee. He recalled that it had been the intention of the
late Lord Rutherford to attend.
The present Position of Displaced Scholars
The meeting accepted the statement in Section II of the
Memorandum previously circulated as a correct summary of the
present position. Mr. Adams reported that there had been over
150 dismissals in Germany in recent months of scholars with
wives of "non-Aryan" origin. The danger of the cancellation
an
of the pensions now being paid to displaced scholars still in
Germany was to be envisaged because there had been tiistances of the
cancellation of ex gratia grants which had been made to displaced
scholars by the German Government. Proiessor Friis reported
that displaced scholars who had come to Denmark to investigate
possibilities were not being allowed to recross the frontier:
they were informed verbally at the frontier and at the German
Consulate in Denmark that they could re-enter Germany only on
pain of being put into a retraining camp. Professor Dustin
reported that new refugees were continuously entering Belgium.
Professor Liljestrand mentioned the extension of the persecution
by the victimization of relatives of those German scientists
who accept positions in Russia. Dr. Demuth stated that the
possibility must be considered of the displacement of university
teachers in Cermany who were not members of the National-
socialist party.
dys Hxisting Means of Assistance, and the Need and Methods of
Further Assistance
The meeting considered the sections T and III of the
Memorandum. Mr. Adams stated that other national committees for
assistance of displaced German scholars existed besides those
represented at the meeting and the four mentioned in the report
(for instance the Swiss committee) but he understood that the
other committees were not able to deal with the continual new
cases but only to maintain the scholars they were already
supporting.
Great Britain. Professor Gibson reported that the funds of
the Society for the Protection of ‘Science and Learning were
adequate for the restricted work the Society was envisaging
but would be insufficient if there were a recrudescence of the
refugee problem. Professor Bentwich called attention to the
work accomplished in Great Britain by the Jewish Professional
Committee. Mr. Adams explained that it had not been mentioned
in the Memorandum because there was a working arrangement
between the Society and that Committee whereby the former dealt
with academic cases and the latter with non-academic cases,
with certain exceptions due to the access to special Jewish
funds which the Professional Committee enjoyed.
essor Liljestrand reported that the Swedish
tance to refugee intellectuals, including
artists and authors, not only to academic refugees, and did not
confine its help to refugees from Germany. The committee
would shortly be reorganised, perhaps restricting its activities
to helping academic refugees, and it was probable that the new
Chancellor would act as president of the committee. The
committee had received grants for its strictly academic work
of approximately £1300 p.a. from the government, paid from a
fund that did not form part of the parliamentary budget; with
nis grant it had been able to create temporary posts as
assistants for a certain number of refugee German scholars and
with other funds, privately raised, temporary emergency grants
had been made to other refugees. Two displaced German
scholars, Professor Ernst Cassirer and Professor David Katz,
had been sppointed to university chairs. The committee was not
in a position to assume responsibility for the financial
support of more refugee schol&’rs than those it was already
supporting.
oweden. Prot
committee gave assis
i
one
Belgium. Professor Dustin reported that there did not exist
in Belgium a central committee for assisting academic refugees; the
different universities had separately taken what action seemed
appropriate to them. The Committee created by the University of
Brussels in 1933 had spent 458,951 Belgian ‘rancs since its inception.
It was now spending an average of 100,000 Belgian ‘rancs annually.
The funds had been raised exclusively from private subscriptions.
During the first two years a great many of the professors had
contributed #% of their salary to the Committee. Two German
professors had been attached to the University of Brussels (Georg
Schlesinger, engineering, and Peter Pringsheim, physics). Temporary
help was given to among others Protessor Hermann Grossmann, chemistry,
r. Grundberg, medicine, Dr. Hilda Pollaczek, mathematics, and
Dr. H. Sack, physics. Scholars were often invited by the Institut
des Hautes Etudes, which is attached to the University of Brussels,
to deliver lectures or give courses, and the expenses involved were
paid by the Institut itself; during the current academic year
invitations had been issued to Professor Fritz Weigert (chemistry),
Professor Leo Zeitzeff (law), Dr. Alfred Stern, Professor E. Landau
(mathematics), Dr. Paul Goldfinger (chemistry), and Professor Hermann
Goldschmidt (chemistry).
The University of Liége had appointed as temporary assistants
tnree non-German refugee scholars from Germany. Two of these had
gone into industry and the third had been appointed as permanent
assistant.
the University of Ghent had appointed Professor Hand Handovsky,
pharmacology, assistant, and later head of a départment for two years.
The University of Louvain had not given assistance to refugee
German scholars.
The activities of the different university committees were not
limited to the assistance of German displaced scholars. However
about 70% of the sums raised came from Jews, and it would be difficult
to obtain further funds for refugees from Spain.
The Fonds National Belge had not contributed directly to the
assistance of refugee scholars. It could make grants not to persons,
only for particular prozrammes of research; through such grants refugee
scholars might be temporarily assisted in an indirect way.
It was possible for displaced doctors of medicine, after a three
months! training at the Institute of Tropical Medicine at Antwerp to
enter medical service in the Belgian Colonies, for instance the Congo.
France. Professor Joliot-Curice and Dr. Rapkine reported that the
French Committee was at present dealing with scholars displaced from
spain, Portugal and the U.S.S.R. as well as from Germany. It had in
hand 367,000 French francs for the coming year. Its commitments
were over 261,000 frane::. The American Joint Distribution Committee
had more than doubled the funds raised privately, and did not request
that this contribution be confined to the assistance of Jewish
refugees. During the first year of its existence the committee had
had direct financial assistance from the government. some of the
displaced scholars previously supported by the committee had been
re-established through the Caisse Nationale, a government fund a
fixed percentage of which can be used for the support of foreign
scientists. Other displaced scientists have received grants from
the Caisse without previously being supported by the committee.
De
‘
The possibilities of the establishment of foreign scholars in France,
except through the Caisse, were limited by the restriction of State
appointment, including university posts, to French citizens by birth
or persons who had been naturalized for ten years. The committee
had not hitherto undertaken place-finding work outside france, but
hoved shortly to make enquiries into the opportunities for placing
scholars and scientists in the French colonies.
Notgemeinschaft Deutscher Wissenschaftler im Ausland
Dr. Demuth described the activities of his organisation in finding
places in Latin America, Asia and U.S.A. It had had some success in
placing scholars in various countries in Latin America and in Asia,
but it was important to realise that some of these positions were to
be considered of a temporary character only, in view of the political
conditions of the countries concerned. In only rare cases would the
scholars he permanently absorbed in those countries. Already there
had been a second displacement of refugee scholars placed in Spain,
the U.S.S.R. and @hina; he had just heard of four dismissals from
technical colleges in China of scholars he had placed there. The
situation in Turkey was a difficult one; the chief Turkish newspaper
had recently published an article by a prominent Government official
attacking the German scholars who had obtained academic positions in
Turkey. In Ecuador 12 scholars had been placed, and since their
appointment they had had 25 different iiinisters of Education and 4
Presidents. The President of Panama had been interested in the
German refugee scholars and had invited 12; his successor thought he
therefore had to disapprove of the Germans being there. Some of the
scholars placed in Panama had already lost their positions, and others
considered their situation very precarious. There had not been any
displacement of the German specialists appointed in Colombia and Chile.
Recently Venezuela had asked for 25 to 30 exiled scholars, and perhaps
a few would be appointed. Negotiations were also proceeding with other
parts of Latin America. Permanent positions could be expected only
in countries with an old established culture. It was therefore urgent
that other European countries should make the same strenuous efforts
as Great Britain and France. In Dr. Demuth's opinion, the U.S.A.
should still be able to absorb a number of scholars in subordinate
positions.
Professor Liljestrand asked whether it was not the case that some
of the refugee scholars placed in distant countries had failed to learn
the language of the country and were unable to lecture in it, for which
reason they could not be assimilated. Dr. Demuth replied that that
might be so, but that he urged the scholars to make every effort to
learn the Language.
Mr. Adams asked whether the refugee Germans were trying to retain
their German culture outside Germany in any way comparable with the
attempt of the Russian refugee scholars to preserve Russian culture
in emigration. Dr. Demuth replied that in his opinion the German
scientists were assimilating very quickly. This was not always the
case with scholars in the humanities. The younger refugees were
assimilating astonishingly quickly. He himself would have preferred
them to retain a stronger German note than they did. Professor
Bentwich said he was astonished at the ease with which German refugees
nad fitted into Palestinian life.
Denmark. Professor Friis reported that there were three
committees for refugees in Denmark, one of which dealt with
intellectuals. This Committee was not limited to assisting German
Scholars in principle, but was so in fact. The funds were raised
from private sources, as egoism in the universities was very strong.
lL.
“As Rector of the University of Copenhagen in 1933, he had found it
very difficult to obtain help from the University. Ten scholars
were now absorbed in Danish academic life, including Professor Otto
Neugebauer, mathematics, and Professor Hevesy, chemistry. A further
twelve scholars were being supported but would be able to remain in
Denmark only temporarily. The Committee had helped a number of
refugees to go to Sweden. Small grants had been given by the
government to assist the work for refugee intellectuals. Half of
the Committee's funds came from private subscriptions from all elasses
of people, and the remaining half from Foundations like the Carlsberg
and Rask @rsted, and from certain banks. The police and the
Government authorities were co-operating with the Committee: no
displaced scholar was made to leave the country without the Committee
being first consulted. The scholars who came before 1935 would be
able to remain in the country and to work, if they could retain their
positions. Further immigration would not be allowed.
A national committee to assist refugee intellectuals already
existed therefore, and in Professor Friis! opinion it would not be
possible to establish a purely academic committee similar to the
society for the Protection of Science and Learning.
There was a Committee for "Non-Aryan" Christians in Denmark which
had raised 100,000 Crowns for the purpose of placing 30 refugees in
Colombia; the settlement plan had not developed and the group was still.
dependent on committees in Denmark. There was a Communist committee,
Rote Hilfe, with which the governrent did not co-operate.
The Chairman asked what the Danish Committee would do if it had
more money. Professor Friis replied that the Committee would help the
refugees to go elsewhere where there were possibilities for them, as they
could not be absorbed in Denmark, or would help them to retrain for
some other type of work; for instance some lawyers had been trained for
agriculture.
UsS.As Dr. Flexner stated that he himself had not been active
in the American Committee, but he had consulted his brother, Dr. Bernard
Flexner. The sudden death of Mr. Felix Warburg would have a serious
effect on the funds of the American Committee, as he gave freely himself
and obtained large contributions from others. In certain fields of
science saturation point had already been reached, e.g. mathematics.
There might however still be possibilities in other subjects, e.g.
Artsand Art History. There was opposition from the younger men in
the universities to the introduction of more Germans. This objection
did not apply to the distinguished senior men; it was the men of 25
to 35 who were not yet "made" who were in competition with American
University teachers and graduates.
The problem was not in essence a financial one, for this great
difficulty of the opposition of younger Americans to the entry of German
competitors would exist even if ample funds were available. The
problem had been aggravated by thé depression, the effects of which
were still felt in the universities from which teachers, particularly
women and younger men, had been dismissed.
Dr. Flexner added that, in his own opinion, there might he a field
of absorption for refugee scientists in industry, particularly in
research departments. There was an extremely rapid development of
scientific research in industry and this might lead to openings for
chemists, physicists, certain types of mathematicians and biologists.
Research departments of hospitals might also have openings for
pathologists, bacteriologists and particularly serologists.
De
Phe Chairman pointed out that this had reference only to
specialists in the natural sciences, not to those in the humanities,
and asked what steps could be taken to take advantage of these
opportunities.
Dr. Flexner said that it would be worth considering establishing
a committee, similar to a university éeppointments board,. maintaining a
list of available specialists and openings. he thought that the
existing Emergency Committee might be used indirectly for this purpose.
It would be essential that refugee scientists Visiting America should not
confine their ambitions to academic work but should be prepared to take
non-academic posts.
Mr. Adams stated that many refugee. scholars had already found
positions in industry in U.S.A. However it was impossible to place
them without their physical presence in the country. Tne development
of a new bureau in U.S.A. would have to include a scheme for bringing
them over. The Emergency Committee had confined its work strictly to
scholars. The only two other bodies were the local branch of the
Notgemeinschaft, consisting of Germans, and the National Co-ordinating
Committee, which was not specialised enough.
Dr. Demuth stated that during his visit to U.S.A. in the spring of
this year he wanted to establish such an organisation, but every committee
he visited advised him not to do so, as it would create enemies in the
industrial field just as they had been created in the academic field.
Their opinion was that individuals would have to make their own efforts.
A ny bureau established would have to work very quietly, and funds to
subsidize temporary visits by scholars would be essential.
Professor Gibson stated that the society for the Protection of
science and Learning had found it had proved to be a practical way of
helping certain refugee scholars to pay their return passage and
maintenance for three months for visits to the United states, because
most had found academic or industrial posts in consequence. He thought
that the latest news from the Emergency Committee suggested that it was
not considering extending its activities or preparing to deal with any
recrudescence of the refugee problem, and that in any case it could deal
only with scholars displaced from Germany, not those from other countries.
Dr. Flexner suggested that, if there should be a recenescence of the
refugee problem, sentiment in America might arise which made further
activity possible.
The Chairman said that it appeared that if funds were available,
investigations should be made to see if they could be used (a) to pay
the fares for visits by suitable scholars and (b) to maintain a reception
office, or representative, having as full information as possible about
openings, suitable contacts with industrial research organisations etc.,
and advising the European organisations about the type of refugee
specialist to send.
=
General Proposals Based on Past Experience
‘
The meeting considered the general points raised in Section III
and IVA of the Memorandum. It was agreed that the reference on
page 7 to uneconomical use of funds in the early years of assistance
to the German refugees was misleading and inaccurate, anc should not
appear in its present form if any public statement were issued.
The meeting agreed that the work of academic assistance must be
continued and proceeded to consider the principles on which the work
should be conducted, discussing the propositions on pages 9 - 10
of the memorandum separately.
Professor Friis thought that it would be difficult to prevent
the work from acquiring an anti-fascist complexion, and called attentio1
to the special difficulties that had been experienced in Denmark
thoough the presence of Fascist "refugees", e.g. members of the
Schwarzer Front, some of whom had proved to be spies.
The following propositions were adopted:-
1. That the work of academic assistance must be conducted without any —
political bias and without connection to any political policy.
<. That the work must be strictly non-sectarian. It is essential
that help should be given to displaced scholars without regard
to their religious beliefs; that it should be available, for
instance, to Jews and non-Jews; and that in consequence in order
to demonstrate this publicly the membership of the academic
organisations should not be predominantly Jewish.
9. That assistance must not be confined to scholars displaced
from German institutions but must be available for those in any
country who are unable to continue their scientific work on
grounds of "race", religion or potitical opinions. It was
agreed that this did not exclude co-operation with
organisations existing to assist only German scholars.
4. That the assistance must not be available for scholars unable
to continue their work for purely economic reasons unconnected
with political, religious or social developments.
a- That the assistance is not merely charitable relief, but has a
specifically academic character and that consequently it must be
conducted in closest relation to the universities, learned
academies, etc., and must be confined to scholars who have
manifested an activity justifying the continuance by them of
Scientific work.
6. That, in any organisation established, complete sutonomy in
policy, methods of work and membership must be given to local
committees in order that the activities may be adjusted most
appropriately to the special conditions of each country.
Proposed formation of National Committees and of an International Body.
The Chairman suggested that it would be convenient to consider
the two proposals together since it would be necessary to decide
whether national committees should first be formed end later joined
into an international body, or whether an international body should
be established which should assist in the creation of national
committees.
i
+
Professor Dustin said that if an international body existed, it
would be easier to organize a national committee in Belgium. He
considered that the international body should not be official, for
instance attached to the League of Nations. ‘Professor Joliot-—Curie
and Dr. napkine said that an international body would be in a better
position to approach foundations such as the Carnegie and Rockefeller
than would national committees; that in France private donors who
would be unwilling to give support directly for the assistance of Jewish
refugees within France would be willing to make contributions to an
international organization; that experience in Canada had shown that
wealthy Jews were not prepared to give funds for the purpose of maintaining
refugee Jewish scholars in Canadian universities because they feared
this might increase anti-semitism but that they too would probably be
prepared to assist an international scheme; and that one important part |
of an international scheme, namely a central office, already existed in
the organisation of the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning.
Professor Liljestrand agreed that an international body would
probably have more success in obtaining financial help from wealthy
individuals than a national committee would.
The Chairman said that it seemed to be the general feeling of the
meeting that an international organ should be created tirst. The
difficulty arose of finding a method by which the members of the
international committee could be appointed or elected before the national
committees existed to nominate representatives. He suggested for
consideration that the Council of the pociety for the Protection of
science and Learning should co-opt to its membership national correspondents
whom it selected from each country; that these national correspondents
together with two or three representatives of the Society would constitute
themselves into an international committee, and could appoint a small
executive body to act on their behalf; that the international body thus
created, which would be a separate entity from the Society, could appeal
for funds on an international basis.
The meeting adjourned for lunch.
The Chairman asked for the views of those present on the tentative
proposal he had made concerning the method of establishing an
international body. There was unanimous agreement that this would be
the simplest procedure in practice. Professor Liljestrand suggested thet
where national committees already existed they should be consulted in the
selection of the proposed corresponding members.
The meeting proceeded to consider names of persons who might be
invited to serve as corresponding members and agreed on the following
Ssuggestions:-—
Belgium Professor Dustin together with a representative in the
humanities
oweden Professor Liljestrand together with a person proposed by
the national committee, if possible representing the
humanities.
Denmark Professor Aage Friis and Professor Niels Bohr.
Norway Professor Friis promised to make enquiries and to inform
the Society of the names of persons who might be invited.
France Professor Joliot-Curie, Professor Jean Perrin and if
possible a specialist in the humanities.
om
v Holland Professor de Haas and Professor Huizinga.
owltzerland Professor Rappard and Professor Egger.
Portugal Dr. Pinto (National Research Council) and
Professor da Costa.
2
J.5.A. President Livingston Farrand and Mr. W. Connely.
Professor Bentwich suggested that Dr. Weizmann would be an
appropriate representative for Palestine. The Chairman pointed out
that it might be appropriate for Dr. Weizmann to serve in another
capacity on the international body but that it might be formally
difficult for him to be appointed in the same way as other national
corresponding members.
The meeting agreed that enquiries should be made to discover who
could be most appropriately invited in Poland, Czechoslovakia,
Finland, Australia, Canada, etc. and that it would be best to postpone
for later consideration the question of inviting members from the
south American countries.
It was suggested that there should be three representatives of
the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning on the
international body, for instance Professor Gibson, Professor A.V.Hill
and Sir William Beveridge.
It was agreed that Dr. Demuth should be invited to serve on the
international committee.
It was agreed that the following should be proposed as members of
ean executive committee for the international wor » with power to
co-opt:- Professor Gibson, Professor Dustin, Dr. Demuth, Dr. Rapkine
and Mr. Adams.
it was agreed to recommend that Professor Niels Bohr should be
invited to act as President, and Sir William Beveridge as Vice-
President of the international body, and that they should be members
ex officio of the Executive Committee.
It was suggested that it would be convenient if the corresponding
members could meet in their capacity es an international committee at
the same time as the annual meeting of the Society for the Protection
of Science and Learning was held.
The meeting agreed to recommend to the society for the Protection
of Science and Learning that it should elect corresponding members as
proposed together with representatives from such other countries as
seemed appropriate #s accasion arose and to recommend that these
corresponding members, three representatives of the society and
Dr. Demuth should form an international committee for academic
assistance.
Finance,
The meeting considered what steps could be taken by the
international committee when formed to raise funds for work on an
international basis additional to the funds raised by the national
committees, It was agreed that if a grant or prize were awarded
dy the Nobel Peace Committee it would have a decisive effect in
obtaining financial help from other sources. Professor Dustin
thought that this would make possible 4a contribution from the Belgian
Fonds National. Professor Joliot-—Curie thought that the French
government would contribute. Professor Bentwich recalled that
Judge Hanssen had suggested that the Nansen Office should be
proposed for the award of a Peace Prize. Professor Liljestrand
. 9.
10.
f
undertook to discover, in consultation with Professor Friis,
what procedure would be hecessary for the clsims of the international
committee to be considered for a Peace Prize, and it was agreed
that enouiries should he made to discover which of the previous
Nobel laureates would be willing to support. the proposal.
Professor Liljestrand undertook to enquire from the trustees
of the Axel Wemner-—Gren Foundation whether financial help from
that fund would be possible at a later date.
Dr. Rapkine reported that a contribution from the Ella sachs
Plotz Foundation could almost certainly be Obtained for the
international committee.
Professor Bentwich stated that he thought the American Joint
Distribution Committee might be willing to contribute to the
international committee, and that the Council for German Jewry
might make a token contribution to the international work if the
pociety for the Protection of Science and Learning surrendered its
It was suggested that the executive committee of the
international body should consider what programme, should be submitted
to the Carnegie Corporation and the Hockefeller Foundation in order
to enlist their financial co-operation.
Dr. Flexner suggested that the Carnegie Peace Kkndowment should
be approached, through President Nicholas Murray Butler.
It was agreed that it would be one of the first tasks of the
executive committee to prepare a scheme for the expenditure of money
reised for international work, taking into account the possibilities
of further work in France, Sweden, Bel giun, turkey, etc: the
possibility of nelping particular Eroups such as the Warburg
Institute; the possibility of assisting scholars to fing places in
U.S.A. and South America by subsidizing temporary Visits: and s
scheme for the delegation to the executive committee by the
international body of limited responsibility for the expenditure of
funds.
Place-finding.
The meeting agreed that the executive committec Should have as
one of its tasks the duty of developing place-—finding work, and of
preventing overlapping in negotiations for openings.
‘=
Publicity.
The meeting agreed that publicity should be postponed until the
international body had been formed and there had been some response
to its appeal for financial assistance. It was suggested that the
executive committee, in consultation with the Socicty for the
Protection of Science and Learning, should decide whether it would be
desirable to summon a meeting of the international body in the
spring of 1938 to which publicity could be given.
Thanks,
Professor Friis on behalf of those present expressed deep
gratitude to Sir William Beveridge for his gcnerous hospitality and
for his acting as chairman of the meetings. oir ‘William beveridge
expressed his pleasure that one of his first duties as Master had
been to welcome the guests to this meeting, and hoped that the
contrast between the beauty of Oxford and the ugliness of the fate
Of displaced scholars would inspire all to continued efforts on
behalf of their unfortunate colleagues.
aC.
I IEEOODSS5S5~--~—~—— re
