Charge Discrimination Against American Jewish Students at Cologne University

Discrimination is being practiced at the University of Cologne to prevent American Jewish students who have been enrolled at the University from taking their places in the class rooms, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was informed yesterday by an authoritative Jewish source.

American Jewish students were permitted to enroll at the University for this semester’s work since the rector of the institution has no legal authority to bar them. The University head, however, informed all professors and lecturers that all American Jewish students arriving to take their places in the class rooms were to be told that there was no room left. This order was carried out at the beginning of the college term.

Cognizance of this state of affairs was taken at a recent conference of German University Rectors held in Berlin which condemned the action of the Cologne University authorities.

A number of Jewish organizations, including the Central Union of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith, the Zionist Federation and the Ostjuden Student Union have protested to the rector of Cologne University. They pointed out that the treatment accorded American Jewish students is most unfair particularly in view of the support given German Universities by such outstanding American Jews as Felix M. Warburg, the late Mortimer Schiff and other members of the firm of Kuhn, Loeb and Company.