DOCUMENT 348 JANUARY 1912 399 nicipal governments, as well as to provide "ca. 2000 expert opinions at no charge" ("circa 2000 Gratisauskünfte") (see Heinrich Zangger memorandum on instruction in forensic medicine, 23 October 1911, SzZSa, U 106 c .3 (62)). This, in addition to the six courses he offered in the Faculties of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine of the University of Zurich (see Verzeichnis Hochschule Zürich 1911b, pp. 11 and 13), constituted a formidable workload. For an earlier indication of his dissatisfaction, see Doc. 251. [2]Two days earlier, on 28 January. [3]Ludwig Forrer was elected President by rotation on 14 December 1911 for a three-year period beginning 1 January 1912 (see Staats-Kalender 1912, p. 29). [4]Einstein was expecting the official announcement of his appointment by the Swiss Fed- eral Council as professor at the ETH, following the recommendation eight days earlier of the Swiss School Council (see Doc. 341). The federal councillor responsible for education direct- ed a similarly worded version to his colleagues on 25 January (see Marc Ruchet memorandum to Bundesrat, 25 January 1912, Sz-Ar, E 8(B) box 89, Einstein Dossier). [5]Pierre Weiss Aurel Stodola Carl Schröter. [6]The creation of a position for Einstein in Vienna was being contemplated (see Doc. 326, note 1). [7]The Swiss Federal Council convened 30 January to discuss and approve the Einstein ap- pointment. The decree in its final form contains verbatim the language in the recommendation of the Swiss School Council, except that moving expenses are not mentioned (cf. Doc. 341, note 1, and the decree of 30 January 1912). These expenses were approved separately (see Doc. 355). [8]The Einstein appointment to the ETH originally met with considerable opposition from the President of that institution, Robert Gnehm and from many of the faculty (see Doc. 291). Overcoming this opposition also "necessitated intensive work, fine diplomatic work in the [Swiss] Federal Council" ("eine intensive Arbeit, eine feine diplomatische Arbeit, im Bundes- rat nötig war") (see Peter Debye to Arnold Sommerfeld, 3 November 1912, GyMDM, Hand- schriften-Sammlung, 1977-28 (A, 61/11)), where Gnehm's objections to the appointment were lodged with his superior, Josef Schobinger, the federal councillor responsible for education (see Docs. 291 and 305, note 2). 348. From Heinrich Schenk Bern, 31/I 12, 8h 45 a. Lieber Einstein! Soeben beim Lesen des "Bund",-Du kennst die andachtvolle Morgen- stunde noch, in der das geschieht,[1]-ersehe ich aus der Rubrik "Verhandlun- gen des Bundesrates", daß Du als Professor für theor. Physik am Poly" ge- wählt bist.[2] Diese Nachricht freut mich außerordentlich! Wenn Du auch den "Tron" neben meinem Büreausitz nicht mehr besteigen wirst, so rückst Du doch aus dem fernen Prag, von welchem man in der Schweiz immer nur ganz gleichgültige Sachen durch die Zeitung vernimmt,-wieder in erreichbare Nähe. Zu der Wahl gratuliere ich eigentlich nicht Dir in erster Linie, sondern unserer eidgen. techn. Hochschule die sich wirklich lange genug besonnen hat, bevor sie sich zum Zugreifen entschloß![3] Wenn Du in Dein neues Reich