811.111 Colleges 62/13
The German Embassy to the Department of State
Since about five years a number of German students of technical and economic sciences have been coming over to the United States in order to work in industrial and agricultural plants in this country for the purpose of acquiring practical experience in American social conditions and working methods. This activity has been organized and sponsored by the “Wirtschaftsbeihilfe der Deutschen Studentenschaft”, (German Students’ Cooperative Association) in Dresden, an independent students’ body working with the support of leading German industrialists and with the endorsement of the educational authorities in Germany. The students are selected according to their merits and suitability and, at the recommendation of the Association, represented by the executive office in New York, granted a so-called Student Laborer Visé for one year by the United States Authorities, which is generally extended for a further 12 months.
In February 1926 this institution was, after having proven its practicability and value, placed on a stable basis by a written agreement between the Association and the Department of Labor in Washington, to the terms of which reference may be made. In 1928 the organization was made reciprocal, so that American students could avail themselves of the same possibilities and opportunities in Germany as vice versa, and the institutions have since then worked in a most satisfactory manner although, as yet, the number of American students availing themselves thereof has been considerably smaller than on the German side.
A few days ago the Department of Labor informed the executive Secretary of the German Association, Mr. Herbert Boehmer in New York, that the agreement must be discontinued on account of the recent development of the unemployment situation in the United States, as a consequence of which the German students at present in this country who have been expecting the extension of their visé in the customary manner since January are to be refused such and a group of 32 students about to sail for the United States will not receive the necessary permit to enter.
The German Embassy is fully appreciative of the grounds which have prompted the Labor Department to take the decision mentioned [Page 110] and all German parties, official and private, which have heretofore cooperated in organizing and carrying out the student exchange, as described, are sincerely conscious of the hospitable and helpful attitude of the United States authorities which made this institution possible. The new ruling has, however, brought about a situation of greatest hardship to the students involved which, it is felt, might be alleviated without prejudice to the principle of the ruling, and it is also submitted that methods might be found by which the termination of an institution of such intrinsic value as this present exchange could be presented without encroaching upon the statutory provisions involved. The students at present waiting on their extension have made all arrangements for the next year on the bona fide assumption that such extension would be granted. They will now be forced to return to Germany immediately although they have no position there available and no funds held in readiness for their passage home. They will thus come into serious financial difficulties and find it very hard to find employment on their return; many of them have even contracted debts for equipment and passage which they had hoped to pay off through the work of the coming year but which now will be added to further obligations necessitated through the present decision. It is a serious, in many cases almost insoluble problem, which thus confronts these students—mostly of impecunious parentage—and there appears no other solution therefor than the extension of the vises as provided in the original agreement. A similar situation exists with reference to the group of students at present awaiting their permit. They have made all preparations for their journey, incurred considerable expenses for equipment etc. and given up their present situations, so that the cancellation of the plan will mean for them indebtedness and unemployment.
In view of this situation the German Embassy would be sincerely grateful if action could be taken to extend the permits of the students here in the customary manner and to permit the small group awaiting their visés to carry out their preparations. Such action would be deeply appreciated by all circles in Germany, whilst the negative alternative would be felt as most distressful.
Beyond such action to relieve the immediate hardship of the present situation, it would be much appreciated if the question of finding a form for the continuation of the Student Exchange on the heretofore basis could be taken up with a view to maintaining an institution which is undoubtedly of equal value to both countries in respect of international, industrial and economic education, and the abolition of which, on account of a transitional situation, would be deeply regretted by all.