12 November 1923  81 Harley Street  London W1

Dear Professor,

«IP4,0»It was an enormous pleasure to have a letter again from you and to see that you are yourself again.  The reports received from various sources (the last one from Hans Sachs to‑day) are unanimous in describing how excellently you have endured the painful ordeal.

The offer you make to the Press shows, if I may say so, your characteristic fairness, generosity and shrewdness.  I cannot deny the right you have to be sceptical, and in the circumstances we certainly could not ask for a better offer than the two year's trial you suggest.  I am pretty confident that we shall have something to show for ourselves within that time.  If not, then the matter is automatically settled.  It is, as you say, indeed a question whether the attempt, much as it has cost us, should not be given up.  The only motive I could have myself for being glad of such a solution is that it might mean less arduous work.  On thinking it over I am not sure that this would be so, for presumably I should still go on with the translating whoever published the books.  I should certainly be glad to be relieved of the business complications and confine myself to the scientific side, as I have vainly tried to do for some time past.  The part of the activity to which I do attach the greatest importance is the maintenance of the «MDUL»Journal«MDNM», and I greatly doubt if we could get any publisher to issue this for us.  If any winding up of the Press is ever decided on I only hope that you, Rank and myself would be in harmony on the matter, as in all else.

On top of the news that we might lose the American sales of your books came a proposal from Rank to dispose likewise of the American rights of the other books we are bringing out in our Library (Abraham, Ferenczi, Rank and Reik).«FN1.××Abraham (1927) and Ferenczi (1926) were announced in «MDUL»Journal«MDNM», 2(1921):149, as was a work by Rank entitled "Studies in Dreams and Allied Topics," which did not appear in the International Psycho‑Analytical Library series.  Theodor Reik's «MDUL»Probleme der Religionspsychologie«MDNM». 1. «MDUL»Das Ritual«MDNM» (Vienna and Leipzig: Internationale Psychoanalytischer Verlag, 1919; 2nd ed. rev. 1928) came out as «MDUL»Ritual: Psycho‑Analytic Studies«MDNM» (London: Hogarth Press, 1931), No. 19 of the Library series.

»  The shortest way of explaining my view is by enclosing you a copy of the letter I sent Otto in regard to this.  Two of these books are now ready and the other two will be ready before Christmas.  As you can imagine, we have expended an enormous amount of labour and also much money in this work and should not like to see it cast away.  I trust therefore that Otto will consent to making exactly the same offer as you do (two years), for I really do not think the Press could be made to pay for itself on your books alone or on the other books alone, having regard to the speed at which the different ones can be issued.  All the proofs of Vol. I of the «MDUL»Sammlung«MDNM» have been corrected so that we are within sight of witnessing its definite appearance.  The greater part of the translation work of the other three volumes has been accomplished, but the revising takes so long that we cannot promise to rush them out very quickly.

The upshot of the whole matter is, as I stated to Rank, that it is within the power of either himself or of you to bring the Press to an end.  Personally I hold that it would be very unwise to do so, but in any case I wished to leave him in no doubt about what his suggestion would involve.  You will of course both discuss the matter together and let us know.

I hear the worst news from various sources in America about Frink, who has succeeded in making himself universally unpopular.  He himself tells me for reasons of ill health he is giving up his activities in regard to the Press, the Society, the «MDUL»Journal«MDNM», and also his private practice.  It is a sad blow to us in Europe, but there is nothing to do except face it.

I hope to continue hearing the best news of your recuperation and re‑entry into the world of activity.

With most cordial regards,  Yours affectionately,  Ernest Jones