INTERNATIONAL PSYCHO‑ANALYTICAL ASSOCIATION

«IP0,0»                              31 December 193O  London W1

Dear Professor,

«IP4,0»You have probably heard from Eitingon of our meeting in Paris which we both found extremely agreeable.  He was in a very clear and active mood and we had not the slightest difficulty in agreeing on every point of discussion.  We also had a useful general talk about the progress of the movement, though I was grieved to hear of the amount of friction that apparently exists in the Berlin group.  This is doubtless due both to the absence of a leader and to the group being of such heterogeneous sources, so we may hope that both these reasons will pass with time.

My family is very well, but I paid for my visit to Paris by contracting some infection which culminated in a severe otitis, so that most of the holiday was spent in bed.  I got the tympanum pierced yesterday so should soon mend now.  I wish I could join Eitingon in Nice.  The weather in London for the last month has been too filthy for words and we have rarely seen the sun.

A patient of mine, Mrs. [Mr.] Robson‑Scott is paying a visit to Vienna and has written to ask me for a letter of introduction to you.  I am sending him one, saying at the same time that I do not know whether you are at present receiving visitors; he will probably write to enquire.  He has been in analysis for some years and has proved one of the most difficult cases I have ever had to handle.  It is a case of obsessional neurosis, with a basis of melancholia, but the main analysis has been a characterological one.  He has throughout shown the most implacable hostility I have ever known and this has been coupled with the typical negative therapeutic reaction to progress.  Nevertheless I still have confidence of a satisfactory final result.  I expect the main object in wishing to see you is to obtain reassurance.

I have no other immediate news except that I saw the Princess and Laforgue in Paris who gave very satisfactory accounts of their activities.

With my best wishes to you all for the coming New Year,

Yours always,  Ernest Jones