Acknowledgements

Riccardo Steiner, in his very interesting paper in this issue, has talked about the early history of the International Journal of Psycho-Analysis and the complex issues and agendas evident behind its foundation and early years—all profoundly tied up with the vision and energy of Ernest Jones, the first Editor. As a result of Jones's efforts and those that followed, the Journal has grown in stature to be the only truly international publication in our field. There are presently more than 7, 000 subscribers in 44 countries—about 3, 350 in Europe, 3, 000 in North America, 250 in Latin America and 550 in the rest of the world. Last year there were 90 articles, by authors coming from 17 different countries. There are now three regional Editorial Boards together with the Editorial Board in the UK and an international panel of Consultant Associate Editors.

It is both a privilege and a responsibility to be the Editor of the International Journal of Psycho-Analysis and to be in a position to exercise some influence on what we communicate to each other about. In selecting and developing the theme for the three anniversary meetings in West Point, London and São Paulo—to which thirty-two authors contributed main papers—I have been helped and supported by a number of colleagues, in particular Anne-Marie Sandler and Edna O' Shaughnessy, who worked with me on the theme and on the invitation to authors. Helen Meyers (Chair of the West Point Organising Committee), Jennifer Johns (Chair of the London Organising Committee) and Elias da Rocha Barros (Chair of the São Paulo Organising Committee) contributed numerous ideas and helped with the development of the papers and the programme. A discussion with Leo Rangell in Buenos Aires was, in fact, responsible for creating the germ of the idea that led to the choice of theme.

Each author has had to put up with prompting and criticisms, having to write in a short amount of time on a topic chosen for them. Moreover, although all of the