December 21, 1921

Dear Friends:

As there can be no further news by Jan. 1, I shall not write on that date. On Jan. 3 
Hiller comes to London from his home and if there is anything urgent I will write to 
Rank, reserving any considerations of general inter- est for the Rundbrief.

At our meeting on Wednesday Jago gave a good paper on the relations between tuberc-
ulosis and neurosis, pointing out, u.a., the toxic action on the Libido. We have en-
ough papers announced for the next five meet- ings, which is not wonderful as judged by 
Berlin standards, but for us is a great improvement.

At the British Psychological Society Dr Fitzgerald, a candidate for our Society, 
read a paper on the War Neuroses and gave an excellent clear summary of the Jenseits, 
forgetting, however, to mention Professor’s name till near the end and then only cas-
ually. What is one to do with a clever and gifted, but unscrupulous candidate? About 
the manifest homosexuals I agree with Ferenczi unless the case is very exceptional, 
for it is hard to see how they could perform a thorough Psa with understanding. Further 
our condemnation of the punishment of homosexuality does not alter the fact that to 
the world it is an abhorrent crime, the committal of which by one of our members would 
certainly discredit us seriously.

Brill has just written to say that after all he cannot come to London, but will come 
to the Congress in September. He is standing bravely by Frink, but is alarmed at the 
scandal it has caused. The wildest rumours are flying about, including one that Profess-
or intends to marry the lady himself! Jelliffe is particularly incensed and says it is 
disgraceful that Frink’s name should remain on the Journal.

Sokolnicka writes that there is much interest in the circle of the Nouvelle Revue 
Francaise and that she is thinking of starting a Psa group. She says the Vorlesungen is 
selling well. In making future contracts could my suggestion be taken into account that 
we arrange for the books to have on the front page Bibliotheque Psychoanalytique Internat-
ionale, Londres, below that of the Paris publisher? The reason I gave at Hildesheim was 
so as to educate the world to know that our cachet was the only one to rely on.

Brill says that he never sold the rights of Gradiva, and I am pressing Unwin not to 
buy the American translation for the English rights, hinting that he could be prosecuted 
by Deuticke. Could not the Verlag buy the English rights?

I am preparing a full Glossary with explanatory Notes, and the following new formations 
in English may interest members of the Committee. Ur- scene – primal scene; Primärvorgang 
– primary process; Anlehnungsty- pus – anaclitic type; Besetzung – cathexis; (Strachey). 
Schaulust – Scop- tophilia; (Mrs Rivière). Erogene – erotogenic; Ergänzungsreihe – com-
plemental series; Erkrankungstypen – nosogenic types (E.J.).

Budapest. I was delighted to hear that the times are changing, and trust that the news 
was only the beginning of still better times. We should like to hear how Radó progresses.

Berlin. In my letter of February 21 I made the suggestion that, as it was foolish to send 
Kronen to London, Sachs should keep the subscriptions from Austria, Germany and Hungary 
until the Berlin Congress, which he kindly undertook in the Berlin letter of March 1; 
Abraham was then in Meran and so does not seem to know of the arrangement.

Wien. Best thanks for the beautiful copy of the Vorlesungen, and congratulations on its 
excellent appearance. It was much admired at the meeting this week and there will no doubt 
be some orders as the result.

I did not understand the sentence about Groddeck’s proposal of Baden as the site for 
the Congress, ”was der Professor sehr diskutabel findet”, for I thought it was Baden we 
had agreed on our discussion in September. The objection to Würzburg seemed to be the 
absence of any member in the neighbourhood.

Will you please send me the Fahnen of Ferenczi’s Nachtrag when they are ready, 
and I will keep back his first article on bridge symbolism until then.

On reading further in my witch book I find that the author gives a very plausible ex-
planation of the coldness of the devil’s penis, similarly of the belief that he had no 
semen and could not impregnate women – namely, that the man impersonating the devil could 
not satisfy the numerous demands made on his potency and so had to have recourse to the 
use of an artificial phallus, of variable shape and size (hence the fantastic accounts).

A Vienna letter some time ago rightly pointed out to Berlin that their Rundbrief 
is more valuable when it is signed by all three. May I venture to make the same remark 
now about Vienna?

Rank’s remark in the Rundbrief about photographs coincided with a private letter of 
mine to Abraham’s, and I am sure we shall all agree about this excellent suggestion. It 
would be simpler if each member clearly stated which photographs he wished for, for 
probably we all already have some. For my part I should like one from Abraham, Eitingon, 
Ferenczi and Rank.

I wish the lectures for the Americans all success, express my keen regret that I 
cannot join the happy band in Vienna in January, and send all members my warmest 
wishes for a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Yours cordially

Ernest Jones.