Editorial Comments (1)

The events described in Section 5 overlapped in time with some of those reported in Section 4. The Sixth Extraordinary Business meeting reported in Chapter 1 was held on 2 February 1944, two weeks before the Eighth Discussion of Scientific Controversies on 16 February 1944. It was called to discuss the proposals of the Medical Committee, ‘that a course of instruction in the principles of psychoanalysis suitable for those engaged in the study of psychological medicine should be arranged as part of the Institute's regular programme of work’, and that a special committee be set up to arrange this course. Membership of the Lecture Committee was a much sought-after position. It was one of the first committees in the Society to be subject to election and to a limitation in the tenure of office. (Giving public lectures was thought to give access to potential patients.)

Shortly before the meeting took place, Sylvia Payne received Edward Glover's resignation from the Society and Institute. The greater part of this meeting was therefore diverted from its original agenda, to deal with the Council's proposals for filling the offices left vacant by the resignation of Glover, his letters of resignation, and the Members’ discussion on how to respond to them. It was agreed that copies of his resignation letters be sent to all Members of the Society so that they could discuss at the next meeting how the Society should respond to them.

But Glover had caused much resentment to certain Members of the Society by publicly attacking the work of Army psychiatrists1 in broadcasts during December 1943 and January 1944 and in a weekly journal called Cavalcade. Four of them2 had already decided to call for