President Lowell has received a letter from Professor Franz Keibel of the University of Koenigsberg, Germany, asserting that the French Government retained certain private scientific property of his at Strassburg, including books and instruments, and requesting President Lowell to help him procure their return.

The President has replied as follows:

My Dear Sir

Your letter of August 18th has come, complaining that your books, instruments and other private scientific property have been retained by the French Government at Strassburg, and asking me to use my Influence to procure their return.

If you can prove to me that you protested against the burning of the Library at Louvain, and that you endeavored to secure protection and such treatment as you now request for the professors of the universities in the Belgian and French territory occupied by the Germans, then I will exert any influence that I may possess to procure the return of your personal scientific property.

Very truly yours, A. LAWRENCE LOWELL.