According to one report, in 1988, about 240,000 ethnic Germans from the East Bloc were allowed to emigrate to the FRG. Though the government considers them to be Germans, because their knowledge of the language is often minimal and because of cultural differences, many West Germans consider them to be foreigners. In this respect, they are subject to the same negative attitude that the population holds towards other immigrants. According to this report, describing this attitude as xenophobia is "an understatement." [ John Dornberg, "West Germany hit by backlash at immigrants," The Toronto Star, 2 April 1989, p. A27.]