Letter from Einstein to the Turkish government
Renowned scientist Albert Einstein sent a letter to Prime Minister İsmet İnönü on September 17, 1933 to request the Turkish government to grant permission to scientists, who could no longer work in Germany before World War II, to continue their work in Turkey. A dentist in the Turkish-Jewish community of İstanbul, Sami M. Günzberg acted as the intermediary in transmitting the letter to the Prime Minister.
Einstein’s letter read as follows:
Your Excellency,
As Honorary President of the World Union “OZE” [sic] I beg to apply to Your Excellency to allow forty professors and doctors from Germany to continue their scientific and medical work in Turkey. The above mentioned cannot practice further in Germany on account of the laws governing there now. The majority of these men possess vast experience, knowledge and scientific merit and could prove very useful when settling in a new country.
Out of a great number of applicants our Union has chosen fourty experienced specialists and prominent scholars, and is herewith applying to Your Excellency to permit these men to settle and practice in your country. These scientists are willing to work for a year without any remuneration in any of your institutions according to the orders of your Government.
In supporting this application, I take the liberty to express my hope, that in granting this request, your Government will not only perform an act of high humanity, but will also bring profit to your own country.
I have the honour to be,
Your Excellency’s obedient servant,
