22 October 1923  81 Harley Street  London W1

My dear Professor:

«IP4,0»At last you will, I trust, be in a condition once more to read letters and take an interest in the world outside.  It has been an inexpressible joy to receive the excellent reports of your progress ‑‑ the brilliant success of the operation, the excellent prognosis, and ‑‑ last but not least ‑‑ that you have borne the painful situation so courageously.  You have set us all an example in fortitude as in so many other things.  Personally I felt confident about the surgical aspect of the case, but I feared that the weeks after the operation would be very distressing.  The reports seem to indicate that ‑‑ unpleasant as it must have been ‑‑ this was less so than in many cases, probably because the disease had not extended far.  And now you have the joy of convalescing, every day being an improvement on the last and leading you back to your wonted energy and life‑interests.  How good to know that!

The news from here, personal and movement, is all excellent with the one exception of the complication to the Press introduced by the question of the American sales.  Had it not been for your illness I would have written long since about this matter, though I have been in close correspondence with Rank.  As it is a critical and urgent matter I propose to send Mrs. Riviere to Vienna to discuss with you both as soon as your health permits.

I write full of happiness at your good news and with the strongest wishes for a rapid recovery.

Yours always affectionately  Ernest Jones