Report of the Thirteenth International Psycho-Analytical Congress

The thirteenth International Psycho-Analytical Congress took place at Lucerne from August 26 to August 31, 1934, under the presidency of Dr. Ernest Jones. There were 228 present—132 members and 96 guests.

Thanks are due to the local Swiss Committee for the hospitable and efficient manner in which they undertook the arrangements for the Congress. Unhappily the Congress was marred by a tragic event, for the Secretary of this Committee, Dr. Behn-Eschenburg, was taken seriously ill on the second day of the Congress and died some weeks later, on September 21. The loss of such a devoted colleague is a severe blow, not only to the Swiss Society, of which he was a very active member, but to the whole International Association which he had served so faithfully.

The President, Dr. Ernest Jones, opened the Congress on Monday, August 27, at 9 a.m. at the Kongresshaus with the following address:

My first thought on opening this, the thirteenth International Psycho-Analytical Congress, is inevitably the painful one that for the first time in our history of twenty-six years we miss among us the founder of our Association. It costs an effort to picture a Psycho-Analytical Congress without Ferenczi. Until the last few years, when signs of his distressing malady were becoming unmistakable, he was the very life of every Congress. When it was his turn to deliver an address the hall was always thronged and he never disappointed his audience. I do not need to recall to you the unforgettable vividness of his delivery, his inspired style, nor the characteristically frank and self-revealing quality of his speech. His personality radiated his interest and enthusiasm for his work and was always at the free disposal of anyone whom he thought he could help. As one of his most intimate friends I can bear witness to his generous disposition, his staunch loyalty and his superb integrity of character. I see him now with his courteous bearing, his warm and intimate smil