[Briefkopf: International Psycho-Analytical Association]1

April 11, 1921

Dear Friends:

It is perhaps not necessary to acknowledge the safe arrival of letters, 
not we have interval, but only the rare occasions when an expected one 
does not arrive.

The Kegan Paul case finished today. As their counsel at the last hearing 
had based their defence on the value of the book to PsA, thus breaking their 
promise to me not to associate the two further, I refused to allow any of 
our members to give evidence, merely advising K.P. to consult Havelock Ellis.2 
I have not yet had an eye-witness’s report of what hap- pened today, but 
gather the following from this evening’s paper. Seven experts were called 
for defence. Bousfield (see my review of his book in J. Nr 3)3 spoke from 
the point of view of Psa, thus further identifying the two. William Brown, 
psychologist in London University (see my review of his book)4 said it was 
a scientific book. Dr Eden Paul5 (translator of Moll’s books and also of the 
Tagebuch) was foolish enough to say the book was similar to the Tagebuch. In the end the Lord Mayor ordered the book »to be burnt by common hang-
man«, declaring it to be an obscene work. Unwin expects that the Tagebuch 
will now be attacked. If so, it will be very difficult to offer any other 
defence or arguments that have not already failed with the »Autobiography«. 
And then if the Tagebuch goes one wonders whose turn is next. But it is no 

use meeting trouble before it arrives! We shall certainly defend the Tagebuch 
to the best of our ability.

Many thanks for the kind words from Vienna and Budapest about our act-
ivities here; one is always grateful for appreciation. I believe, my dear Ferenczi, that one difference between the opposition on the Continent and in
England that here it is more often veiled and mixed with half- agreement, 
making it more difficult to deal with. I am certainly in accord with your 
policy of ignoring as far as possible, otherwise one would waste all one’s 
time and energy in fighting opposition that is often only ephemeral. My 
members criticise me, however, for just this policy of aloofness.

I do not find much interest in most of the cuttings enclosed6 and think 
it is only exceptionally that it is worth while sending them. I will ask 
Bryan if he agrees to our large collection from the English newspapers being 
sent to Vienna, to be stored there, and then Rank can send to the other members any that he 
finds of interest.

Wien. I have finished the translation of the Jenseits7, seven weeks’ work, 
and it is being typed. After I have read this through it will be sent off, 
probably next week. I wonder if Professor would be good enough to look it 
through, partly because it is very difficult, and partly for the reason 
hinted at by Ferenczi, that we may expect many misunderstandings and false 
quotations, so that the exact wording becomes specially important.

I am greatly looking forward to reading the Massenpsychologie. As I 
wrote to Rank, Miss Hubback, our best translator, is ready to translate it, 
so that it will not be necessary to take Strachey away from his task with
 the Krankengeschichten.

Yours cordially

Ernest Jones.