8 December 1915  69 Portland Court  London W

Dear Professor Freud:

«IP4,0»Although I have not heard so, I trust that you received my letter which was sent to you in September«FN1.××Letter missing.» when you were in Hamburg.  Last week I sent to you or Rank a batch of abstracts to help to keep things going.  Does «MDUL»Imago«MDNM» still run?  I hope that at least the «MDUL»Zeitschrift«MDNM» will continue all through.

Here everything is as before.  Loe's house is not yet ready, though they have gone to live in it.  I think she will be miserable when it is finished, it is such a wonderful distraction to her.  She is better now, but of late has not been so well, some neurotic symptoms.  I see her every two or three weeks, and greatly enjoy doing so.  This autumn I have read several papers at various societies, and intend publishing my book on treatment in the New Year.«FN1.××Jones (1915d); and Jones (1920b).»  The Ps‑A Society has not met, but we have informal meetings of the three or four soundest men; I hope to get Eder out of it.  Knowledge of our subject still spreads in England, in spite of the effects of the war.  Reversion to repressed and unconfessed tendencies are so evident in all countries at present that it is no longer possible to deny their existence.  I find the psychologists here much more accessible than the neurologists, partly, I suppose, because their interests are not so directly threatened.  A little indication is the fact that I have recently been elected to the Council of the British Psychological Society, which is satisfactory as it is a very respectable body!

Can I ask you a scientific question arising out of your article on repression,«FN1.××Freud (1915d).» for the reprint of which I thank you?  You describe the action of the unconscious in causing part of the repression in a different way from that in which I had conceived it, which was as follows:  The attraction of previous, primitive unconscious material involves the newer, associated material in the same orbit of feeling as itself, thus investing it with this feeling and causing it in consequence to be subjected to the same forces of repression as the older material.  In other words, the latter involves the newer stuff in its own fate, namely repression, but in both cases the actual repressing force, as is indicated by its name, acts from above, from the "higher" Instanzen«MDUL»«MDNM» (though, of course, not necessarily from consciousness).  Am I wrong in this, or can it be reconciled with your different phraseology?  In my article on repression and memory, a reprint of which went to you last week, I criticised Jung for a statement which I now find in your recent article on repression.«FN1.××Jones criticizes Jung on the issue of reproducing repressed memories and the concepts of "interest" and "psychical energy," see Jones (1915a), in «MDUL»Papers«MDNM», 2nd ed. 1918, p. 109.  Similarly, in relation to repression, Freud speaks of "psychical energy (libido or interest)," see Freud (1915d, p. 152).»  That is very sad, isn't it?

I was delighted to get a letter from Ferenczi not long ago, and postcards come at intervals from the ever‑faithful Rank.  From Sachs I have heard nothing this year.  His domestic news was no surprise after what I had seen in Vienna, and I hope it will be better for both of them, as in my own case.  I gather that he is back at home, but am not sure if this means his definite discharge from service.  About Rank I am very sad, it is the saddest personal news in the war to me,«FN1.××Rank was to depart for Krakow in January 1916, where he would spend three years at the «MDUL»Krakauer Zeitung«MDNM».» and I do hope that things will go lightly with him.  Is it known how long he will remain with you?  Loe tells me that your son Oliver is engaged; will you please congratulate him for me.

It is just two years since we last met, and perhaps it will be another two before we meet again, though I sincerely trust not.  I was happy to get good news of you from our valuable friend Van Emden after your meeting together, and trust it still continues, as well as your extraordinary capacity for work in such times as these.  It sounds farcical to wish you a "merry Christmas" this year, though at least things might be far worse.  I send you my heartfelt wishes for the New Year, and may it bring us all happier times.  How different such wishes feel now when contrasted with the more conventional ones in quiet years, and how filled with meaning and desire they are.

Please also convey my kindest regards to your wife and daughter.

Yours as always  Ernest Jones.