Registration at the twenty-ninth Congress of the International Psycho-Analytic Association in London, July 20-25, 1975 at the Grosvenor House Hotel totalled 1500. The opening plenary session announcing the theme of the congress was titled, Changes in Psychoanalytical Practices and Experience: Theoretical, Technical and Social Implications, and was chaired by Professor Serge Lebovici of Paris, current President of the I.P.A. It included Miss Anna Freud (London), Dr. André Green (Paris), Dr. James F. McLaughlin (Pittsburgh), Dr. Leo Rangell (Los Angeles) and Dr. Leonard Shengold (New York). Other sections of the program touched on current shifts, advances, differences and questions about current theory and practice, and included thirty American participants. The final open forum, The Role of the Psychoanalyst in a Changing Society, was chaired by Dr. Robert S. Wallerstein (San Francisco) and included Drs. Leon Ferber (Baltimore), Edward D. Joseph (New York) and Justin Krent (Cleveland). Dr. Edward M. Weinshel (San Francisco) presented concluding summary comments on the Congress.
The format for social events for the International Congress followed a tradition of many such congresses.
On the opening day, following registration, an informal reception given by the British Society took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel. This event, and a more formal reception on July 22nd at the historic Guildhall of the City of London, were open to all Congress registrants. A closing banquet on the final day of the Congress was arranged by individual subscription and reservation. On July 21st, registrants could have chosen in advance an opportunity to enjoy private hospitality in British homes or a reception at the Tavistock Clinic. A fully scheduled series of social events and tours was announced in advance of the Congress and was available both by reservation and subscription.
The positive feelings engendered by this traditional hospitality and the opportunities it afforded to meet and know psychoanalysts from many parts of the world were, unfortunately, shadowed by a disquieting atmosphere of hostility towards the APsaA emanating from some European and some American colleagues. A number of incidents reflected these feelings, the most significant of which occurred when a resolution was introduced at the Business Meeting by ten I.P.A. members, many of whom were also members of our own Association. This resolution (which, if adopted, could subsequently have been considered an amendment to the I.P.A. Constitution) proposed controls on the ethics and behavior of I.P.A. members. It was not supported by the Executive Council of the I.P.A. It became clear that the proposed resolution was primarily a vehicle for atttacking the American Psychoanalytic Association by alleging discrimination against some members of the American for their Kleinian position and practice. The resolution was tabled. Following this action, Dr. Francis McLaughlin, President of the APsaA, was recognized twice by the Chair and attempted to respond to the very serious allegations that had been raised against the American. A group of those present prevented him from speaking. The tone and the nature of the objections to hearing him belied the ostensible basis of parliamentary procedure, and were not only the unhappy reflections of an underlying resentment and hostility, but an unruly public demonstration inappropriate for a meeting of a scientific body. Equally disquieting and unfortunate, these same allegations of APsaA prejudice and discrimination were raised at the “Evaluation” session of the Congress. On the latter occasion, however, the unruliness that characterized the cutting off of Dr. McLaughlin's attempts to speak at the earlier Business Meeting did not occur. These accusations were aired in the presence of an audience which included guests and members of the press, and under conditions which precluded any substantive or constructive discussion of the facts and issues involved.
An additional disappointment and frustration for the APsaA concerned the failure of attempts to gain greater visibility for the Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, within the International. Plans had been made for Dr. Harold P. Blum, the JAPA Editor, to address the Business Meeting, and also for material publicizing the Journal to be distributed to all Congress registrants. Dr. Blum was unable to offer more than a brief and perfunctory statement about the JAPA; and for inexplicable reasons the material featuring the Journal was never distributed.
The other major event at the Business Meeting was the passage of the following constitutional amendment:
“If a Society wishes to develop new training facilities, or to set up new categories of students, or in other ways to make any change in training policy that the Society considers to be substantial, then that Society should inform the Association before carrying out such changes. The intention is to encourage discussion with the other members of the Association with a view to receiving advice in those cases where the proposed changes are judged by the Association to introduce modification to those standards and criteria for qualification for admission of members and/or Association membership …”
This amendment appeared quite reasonable and innocuous to most members of the APsaA, who have for many years accepted the consultative activities of the Board on Professional Standards. It evoked a great deal of apprehension and objection from analysts in other parts of the world. After a long and heated debate, the amendment was passed by a very close ($f23 majority) vote.
At the Business Meeting, Prof. Lebovici, President, and Dr. Edward D. Joseph (New York), Treasurer, were re-elected for the next two years. Prof. Lebovici, following his re-election, immediately announced his re-nomination of Dr. Daniel Widlöcher (Paris) as Secretary and the following three Associate Secretaries: Dr. Frances Gitelson (U.S.A.); Dr. Erich Gumbel (Israel); and Dr. Guillermo Teruel (Venezuela). The following members were elected Vice-Presidents: Drs. Kenneth T. Calder (U.S.A.), André Green (France), A. Limentani (U.K.), Mario M. Montessori (Netherlands), Hanna Segal (U.K.), Arthur F. Valenstein (U.S.A.), Edward M. Weinshel (U.S.A.) and Dr. David Zimmermann (Brazil). Dr. Leo Rangell, who was President of the I.P.A. from 1969-1973, continues on the Executive Council as Past President.
The Executive Council of the International also accepted the invitations from Israel to hold the Congress in 1977 in Jerusalem, and from the United States for the Congress of 1979 to be held in New York City.