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It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you here today on behalf of the Paris Psychoanalytical Society.
Since the International Congress held in Paris 16 years ago, psychoanalysis has changed, perhaps even substantially, in theory as well as in practice. Some of these changes can be regarded with satisfaction, while others give rise to some anxiety. One reason for satisfaction is undoubtedly the fact that there are in Paris two psychoanalytic Societies to welcome you, both of which have in common the desire to develop Freud's work along strict lines. Like all of you here, both these Societies are heirs to Freud's revolutionary contribution which has so immeasurably enriched human thought—a contribution whose full meaning we may still not have fully appreciated—and both of them fulfil their duty as trustees in their own way. So, these two Societies—joined together as part of the International Psycho-Analytical Association—see their development as following a rhythm which, fortunately without being spectacular, is that of a team whose speed is constant, mobile and swift enough to ensure continuous progress and security in the face of various obstacles.
Moreover, and this is our second reason to be satisfied, this progress and security are due to the quality of the young psychoanalysts that we have in training. Most of them show signs of such quality of thought, even creativity, and an eager desire to learn that, thinking of what we were when we began and comparing our ignorance then with their knowledge now, it is a deep pleasure to see how much ground has been gained. During all these years, successive contributions have enriched the theory and practice of psychoanalysis and have allowed us to better outline its difficulties, prospects and problems still not resolved. Today our young colleagues successfully assimilate them and use them in their daily experience and practice, as well as in their theory. Besides, the patients themselves have changed and the clin