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Vienna, October 26, 1924
IX., Berggasse 191
Dear friend,
So, Rank was with me today from three to six o'clock, and the result was absolutely surprising, in no way understandable. He said it doesn't occur to him to want to separate from us and analysis; he holds fast to everything he has learned, only he has some things to add to it. He explains his behavior from the feeling that his position in analysis seemed to be jeopardized
by the Berlin denunciation,2 and that he had to think about assuring himself of a possibility of existence, and for that reason accepted the invitation from America. From this presupposition he claims to have explained everything striking about his behavior. He has the intention, following my suggestion, to give an unambiguous explanation of his point of view at the next session on Wednesday, and he claims that he doesn't understand how all the rumors about him could have formed and doesn't want to admit that his book, his utterances, and his behavior were somehow able to justify this “public opinion.” On the technical side, he himself emphasizes the necessity of having facilitation and assistants in his functions, because he thinks that at present one will not put enough trust in him, either as the head of the Verlag or as an editor. So, he is very ready, next Wednesday, to discuss the technical, scientific, and personal element of the affair in detail with the three of us.3
I didn't get the impression of complete honesty in all that. He still owes an answer to some questions and gets disconcerted. As, for instance, at the mention of his insulting statements in the letters, or at the admonition that, already at the time when you went away from me with him, he stated that I will never allow myself to be convinced. I also confronted him with the communication from your last letter, [to the effect that] he is complaining about bad personal treatment on my part. He explains that as a misunderstanding. I didn't spare him at all, and finally sent An