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Vienna, April 30, 1917
IX., Berggasse 19
Dear friend,
I postponed my reply until I received the letter which was sent to Frau G. It came today and gave me insight into the finally satisfactory solution. I now know that I will see you on the 7th/8th1 [of May],2 and will therefore confine myself to the request that you familiarize yourself with revising the critique of Schultz.3 Not that the critique is too rude; it is a genuine German piece of ineptitude and worth all the rudeness you can muster. But you are too irritated, lose your composure, and show yourself fortiter not in re, but in modo. Certain words like “have the impudence” and “pamphlet” shouldn't be used at all, because they are too cheap. You are so indignant about other things that you let the nicest arguments go by the boards, e.g., with those abominations about the Oedipus complex, the reference to mythology, and the book by Rank. In brief, you are not superior, and, for that reason, not contemptuous enough.
I can continue your “unfortunately” to the extent that the political situation is getting darker every day, instead of clearing up. I think that if the overpowering effect of the U-boats hasn't become evident by September, there will be an awakening from illusion in Germany, with frightful consequences. At present there seems to be a harsh disagreement between Karl I (i.e., Austria-Hungary), who wants peace,4 and Wilhelm, who is still hoping for victory and is playing va banque for his dynasty. For five days no German newspaper has been coming to Vienna; instead of that, the Bavarian minister, probably as a mediator. The private reports about hunger and the mood in Germany sound very bad. It is depressing that Sophie can't be restrained from going back in two to three weeks. We will all miss the child.
I no longer have anything to do with the Lectures; they could be out at the end of May.5 Lately, ample manuscripts for the Zeitschrift. I am in too grumpy a mood to do any work.
With kind regards, auf Wied