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10th February 1955
Dear Money-Kyrle:
There are several reasons why I want to meet yourself and some or all of those I mentioned. Roughly speaking these are:
If we meet personally we have no difficulty whatever in believing in each other, and in that case if we happen to disagree on a point or two it does not matter. If we never meet, however, the disagreements get an importance that is out of proportion. Simply meeting and talking about the weather or something is a good thing in itself. We shall never meet, however, unless we organize a meeting.
There is the flutter caused by the discussion on K and this should be got out of the way, because the problems that I have in my mind for discussion have nothing to do with K and ante-date him by several years. It is useful to get this stated.
The problem of groups within the Society is a very interesting one which can be discussed constructively. It is a problem, however, which cannot be left to look after itself. If groups form they must be prepared to state clearly their aims and be prepared also to discuss the effect of the existence of groups on the Society. We can assume, I think, that the main identification of each one of us is with the Society and not with any group. Without the Society the groups would have no meaning and no power. As Members of the Society therefore we are interested in the effect of groups. I would like to have the opportunity to put forward for discussion the simple idea that a group in a society is disruptive of the society. This would take about three minutes to state.
There is a further point which concerns my interest in the work of Melanie Klein. I would like a further three minutes to put forward for discussion the simple view that the acceptance of Mrs. Klein's work is being seriously held up by propaganda in its favour, and that I personally am alarmed by signs of development on the propaganda side. It has been rather strange to me to see the sponsoring of Melanie Klein's views gradually tak