Evening star., 1925-05-17
SCIENTISTS BRIDGE
B0LSHEV|ST GULF
Russian 0rthinoIogist's Visit
to u. S. Is Extended in
Interest of Bird Study.

Science. which knows no political
nor international boundaries. has
brought about the first handshake be-
tween two prominent institutions of
Soviet Russia and the United States.
The intermediary is Prof. Peter p.
Sushkin, world famous orthinologist
of the Leningrad Academy Of Sciences,
the greatest of the bolshevist scien-
tific organizations He Is now at work
in the Division of Birds of the New
National Museum after the American
scientists intervened with the immi-
grafton commission to save him from
being deported.
The Russian scientist Is working In
harmony with experts of the Depart
ment of Agriculture and of the Smith
sonian, who regard him as one OF the
greatest experts in his line of all time.
There is some discussion of arrang-
ing through Prof. Sushl<in an inter
change of scientific material between
Russia and the United States.
Lectured at Harvard.
Sushkin first came to the United
States as a short term visitor to lee
ture at Harvard University. He came
to Washington to attend the annual
meeting of the American Academy of
Sciences early this month and was at
tracted by the bird material at the
Washington Museum. Unfortunately
his six months were up and he was
notified by the Department of Labor
that he must leave.
American scientific bodies, including
the Smithsonian, came to his rescue.
The great value to the world of the
Russians studies, his notable record
as a scientist and the innocuous ma
ture of his activities were brought
out, with the result that the distin-
guished visitor was given an eXten-
sion of time until he can complete his
work.
Former Commissioner General of
immigration W. w. Husband said
yesterday that the case came to his
attention in common with great
many other cases of extended leave;
that it was never intended to work
any hardship on DIR. Sushkin, and
that when his request was taken un-
der consideration it was granted with
out much question.
Few Russians Here.
Although Russians are free to enter
the United States as visitors, the inl-
migration records show that few have
done so. and that of these Sushkin is
practically the only figure of interna
tional repute.
The fact that we have no displo-
matte relations with Russia said Mr..
Husband, has, Of itself, no relation
to the immigration law. Practically,
of course, it is impossible for Rus
sian to obtain a wise to come to Amer
lea, because we have no agent in Rus
sia to sign such a paper. The same
would apply on this side. An Amer
lean wishing to go to Russia would be
unable to obtain Russian wise.
"Of course, it is possible to get
around this, and the immigration Of
flee never has put up q bar against
Russian visitors. The new law has
wiped out the old rule by which visits
were limited to six months. Now the
time is judged entirely by circum-
stances. We consider the work the
man wishes to do in this country and
are willing to take his own word. so
long as it is reasonable, on how long
he will need to complete it. He can
practically set his own time, within
reasonable limits, but when that time
is up we expect him to go.
Misunderstood In Europe.
Unfortunately, however. the i'm
preston seems to prevail in Europe
that visits are limited to six months.
we recognize the Importance OI lnS
work of a man like Prof. Sushkin.
who, I am told, is a very great figure
in science We are willing to CO.
operate with science wherever possible.
II see no objection to an exchange
of scientific material between two in
stitutionS in Russia and the United
States, especially between two colleges.
/ see no reason why an American col
1ege like Harvard should not exchange
professors with a Russian college if
1t sees f1t.''
Prof. Sushkin is engaged here in the
preparation of a work on the birds
of Siberia and Mongolia. He expects
to spend about six weeks examining
the collections. He has paid especial
attention to the birds of prey.
The new National Museum has
some particularly valuable material
in this line collected by Asian ex-
petitions during the past few years
and which is now in process of
classification. The Russian. by his
scientific skill and invariable courtesy,