True, foreign students keep British universities from financial ruin (”Can Foreigners Prop Them Up?” January 15, 2005). Also true, most universities focus on winning them rather than pleasing them, thus exposing their mercenary motives. If not pleased enough, though, students may go elsewhere, as you point out. However, you miss mercenary motives on the foreign students’ part: many are attracted not only by good education, but also by a better prospect of staying in the European Union. This is where other European universities, and not just American ones, can well threaten British universities. And all they need to do is offer academic programs in English, today’s lingua franca, as well as a bit more help with visas, bank accounts, work permits, and the like.