4 November 1913  69 Portland Court  London W

Dear Professor Freud,

«IP4,0»I got Ferenczi's letter this evening, telling me the news, bidding me take action in America, and asking me to send you my opinion.«FN1.××Ferenczi's letter of 2 November 1913 (Archives of The British Psycho‑Analytical Society, London) called for the Secret Committee to go into action to deal with Jung's resignation from the «MDUL»Jahrbuch«MDNM».  Jones's response which follows should be read in this context.  The entire episode is dealt with in Paskauskas (1988a, pp. 24‑29).»  I will waste little time over giving my opinion about the decisions, for you all are in possession of more facts and can come to a more accurate judgement.

(1) «MDUL»Jahrbuch«MDNM».  It looks like an unexpected piece of luck that Jung should deliver this into our hands.  "Too good to be true", and I fear some trick of his, or some scheme with Deuticke to get you to resign.  If it is merely pique on his part, expecting to be called back, then all will go well and Bleuler will probably also retire.  I should have suggested Abraham alone as Redakteur, both because he is a member of the committee and because a central redaction is easier to work, but I suppose you wanted an assistant in Vienna.  Above all I mistrust Jung's move, which must have something behind it ‑‑ what, we shall soon see.

(2). «MDUL»Vereinigung«MDNM».  I am in favour of dissolving, as you all are, but I do not understand the urgency of acting at once until we can correspond with one another (especially Abraham and myself, being at a distance) and so arrange the most workable plan.  Ferenczi says that a dissolution is better than our being forced to resign, but ‑‑ though of course that is true ‑‑ it is not in Jung's power to do anything until the next congress.  If we have the majority there (as I think) he would have to retire, if he has the majority we must take steps for dissolving before.  But why today, «MDUL»postwendend«MDNM» [by return post]?  Still, you may rely on me absolutely to take whatever steps you think fit.

(3). «MDUL»America«MDNM».  Re the New York group, Brill writes to me that Jelliffe, who has been re‑admitted as a member, is using every influence to control it, and with considerable success.  So we cannot hope for much there.

With the Amer. Association I really do not see that we can do what Ferenczi proposes, and for the following reasons: It meets only once a year, in May, and it would be impossible to get the men together from the different States merely for an extra business meeting ‑‑ besides which there is no one there (except Brill) who understands the situation.  In general the Americans find it very hard to enter into our conflicts.  They regard them as merely personal, and rather to be deplored, and do not consider the scientific differences good ground for separating.  Putnam told me he followed you in leaving Stekel, out of politeness, but he was very puzzled.  Hoch, who is now President, is an old friend and admirer of Jung's, though he does not agree with him scientifically.  The Council consists of Brill, Emerson (who knows nothing of the matter), and White, who is Jelliffe's chief friend and is on Jung's side.  One could thus depend on Brill and myself out of the five officers.  As none of the Americans have ever been present at the Congress and know nothing of the affairs of the Vereinigung, they are quite uninterested in the matter and are immersed in nearer interests.  It would be extremely difficult to get them to take such a strong action as Ferenczi proposes.  But I will write to them if you think it wise, either to the officers to ask them if they will take the responsibility of acting in the name of the members without the consent of the latter, or to all the members asking for permission to act in their name.  In the latter way one might get a majority (I think this probable), but I do not know if it would be legal.  They would be very puzzled to understand why a society should be dissolved on the grounds that some of the members cannot get on with the President.  For these reasons I am not writing to America tonight, but will wait to hear further from you.  If it is urgent, please telegraph to me to write, Plan A to the officers, Plan B to «MDUL»all«MDNM» the members.

The London Society is not yet an official constituent of the Vereinigung«MDUL»«MDNM», and so cannot act.

One point I do «MDUL»not«MDNM» agree with Ferenczi about, and that is where he suggests telling the Americans that a new Vereinigung«MDUL»«MDNM» is in prospect.  That would mean telling personal friends of Jung's, such as White, Jelliffe, Burrow, etc., and he would certainly refuse to dissolve, so as to retain power and let us, if we wished, be outsiders.  If we can numerically «MDUL»force«MDNM» him to dissolve, we can force him to resign the Presidency at the next congress, and so need fear nothing.  If one told the Americans about a new society, they would certainly say, especially doubtful men like Hoch, "then let those who wish leave the present Vereinigung«MDUL»«MDNM» and found a new one, but that is no reason for destroying the present one".

You will appreciate the difficulty of my situation.  When one desires to act and to help, it is very hard when one does not see a clear way of acting, and at present I do not.  I hate to write such a negative letter as this, and am trying to think out something more positive.  Ferenczi asks if I would advise waiting for the American answer, or acting with Wien, Berlin, and B'pest alone.  I would certainly say the latter if it is possible, as it seems to be, judging from his question (although it is only 3 out of the 7 groups), for any support from America in the matter would be lukewarm and doubtful.  No doubt you have thought of the possibility of a general referendum amongst the 15O members, issued either by yourself, Abraham and Ferenczi, or by Jung at the request of the three groups.  What is your opinion of this?  Or could you send a circular to selected members, stating your desire to dissolve, and thus find out whether we had a majority for the purpose, which Jung could not resist?

Hoping to hear soon further details from you,  believe me  Yours as always  Jones.

«IP0,0»«MDUL»P.S«MDNM»..  No doubt you will forward this letter to Ferenczi.

«PG»

«DF»