12 September 1923  81 Harley Street  London W1

Dear Professor,

«IP4,0»I had counted on sending you a letter in Rome ‑‑ but all intentions bow before physical conditions.  I have had 12 days of the most severe influenza imaginable.  (temp. 4O°C for three days, pleurisy, intestinal complications, etc.), and am still very weak.

But I do want to send you a line at least to tell you how well you handled the psychological situation at Lavarone.«FN1.××In the Dolomites, Italy, where Freud was staying while the other members of the Secret Committee were meeting nearby in San Cristoforo.  Jones alludes to the complex issues centering around his conflict with Rank, the announcement to Freud that the recently removed tumour in his mouth was malignant, and the effect this had on Rank, as well as the others in the group.  See Jones (1957a, pp. 55, 92‑93, 98; 1957b, pp. 57‑58, 97‑98, 103).

»  It had been expected that you either wouldn't see us, or else would have simply rated me for being the unwitting cause of so much disturbance.  I should of course have borne that, naturally, but it could not have made the best atmosphere for insight ‑‑ insight which in any case was not easy, for I knew I had been unfairly treated and had much right on my side.  As it was, you created the best imaginable atmosphere by your friendliness, directness, and impartiality.  You shall see that the help you gave me will bear good fruit, for I am not going to be content with the present unsatisfactory state of my psychology.

I was sorry to find that your health was not what it might be and hope the visit to your old love ‑‑ Rome ‑‑ improved matters; also that it will not be long before your health is completely restored.

With my entire devotion and affectionate regards  Yours always sincerely  Ernest Jones

«MDUL»P.S.«MDNM»  On my return I looked up my letter to Brill and found, as I expected, that his account was grossly exaggerated.  (The word Semitic, for instance, never occurred in it).«FN1.××Lieberman (1985, 188‑191) charges Jones with anti‑semitism in his treatment of Rank during this episode.  Although the evidence he provides is somewhat skimpy, there may indeed be some truth to the accusation.  In his reports to his wife (Jones to Katherine Jones, 26 August 1923, Archives of The British Psycho‑Analytical Society, London), Jones tells her that Freud will probably not speak to him as "Brill has just been there and told him [Freud] I had said Rank was a swindling Jew (stark übertrieben).  Brill of  course has gone back to U. S. A. without seeing me."  And in his letter of 28 August 1923, Jones wrote: "the whole committee, after hours of talking and shouting...thought I was in Bedlam, decided that I was in the wrong in the Rank‑Jones affaire, in fact that I am neurotic.  A Jewish family council sitting on one sinner must be a great affair, but picture it when the whole five insisting on analysing him on the spot and alltogether!"  Clearly Jones was the chief miscreant in this affair, as he was almost forced to resign from the Secret Committee, and in the end was put "on probation" and ordered to resume his analysis with Ferenczi in Budapest.

»  I suppose he must have identified me with Frink.  I am of course writing to him.