THE INTERNATIONAL PSYCHO‑ANALYTICAL PRESS

«IP0,0»                                  24 June 1924  London W1

Dear Professor,

«IP4,0»I am sorry that Rickman felt obliged to bother you with these business matters, particularly in the unfavourable circumstances of an analysis.  It is obviously impossible for half a dozen people in different parts of the world to accomplish anything unless plenary powers are delegated somewhere.  I understood that you had left the matter entirely to Rank and myself and have been acting on this assumption.  My letter to you of May 3Oth was only intended to report to you the progress made.  It was a precise decription of the situation, but in answer to your questions I will now expand it further.

I had a long discussion with Rank at Salzburg and came to a clear understanding with him.  I was to initiate no fresh negotiations, but was to continue my efforts with those already inaugurated and then report any success to him direct ‑‑ which of course I did.  He on the other hand was to do the same in New York.  His report to me is what I had expected, namely that he has been unable to effect anything in six weeks.  I told him he would not find it in the least easy to dispose of a collection of technical papers extending over thirty years, because the demand for proper psycho‑analytical literature in America was minimal, and they would only consider popular books on the subject.  That has been my experience.  The popular success of the "«MDUL»Introductory Lectures«MDNM»" a few years ago will certainly never be repeated.  The "«MDUL»Collected Papers«MDNM»" are an unsaleable article, so I am informed everywhere, unless they are managed as a whole.

I expect you have seen a copy of our agreement with Woolf (Hogarth Press).  There is nothing in it about American rights.  As a matter of fact, "American rights" are not such a concrete entity as they may seem.  Legally they are largely mythical, and the question is one of courtesy and understanding.  They are composed of two elements ‑‑ translation and sales.  The Press has of course the sole right of translating the "«MDUL»Sammlungen«MDNM»" into English, and I understand that your instructions to Rank were that the standard translation we have made (two‑thirds is ready) was the one to be used in any country.  That question therefore does not arise.  As regards the power of sale in America ‑‑ owing to a curious copyright law ‑‑ neither Verlag nor Press possesses legal rights in this matter.  Any contract that either Verlag or Press made could be at once nullified by anyone who chose to print a translation in America.  There is no legal defence against this, but the matter is usually dealt with on grounds both of courtesy and expediency.  I anticipate, for instance, that any publisher whom Rank may manage to interest in the matter will communicate with us or Woolf.  It would obviously be to his advantage to secure the translation already made, one of good quality, and to acquire already printed sheets instead of being put to the trouble and expense of doing it all over again in America; it is in fact highly unlikely he would contemplate the latter procedure.  I am of course in constant communication with Rank about these technical details.

There are some other matters I want to write to you about, which I will reserve till later.  I gather from Abraham that you have changed your plan of going to Switzerland, but hope you will be able to arrange an equally agreeable holiday.

We have been having an anxious time here over the question of saving the «MDUL»Journal«MDNM».  It is altogether a critical period.

With my kindest wishes,  Yours always,  Ernest Jones