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384F
Vienna IX, Berggasse 19
28 November 1920
Dear Friend,
On the basis of your agreeing assessment I have spoken to Reik and offered him the position of a literary director, with responsibility for reviews and the annual report.1 I did not conceal the criticism of his work in the Verlag, and referring to his psychology expressed the hope of a better performance by him in an independent position. He agreed to accept the post with effect from 1 January 1921 and understood that personal considerations will not prevent his being removed if it turns out that he does not measure up to the job. His salary remains the same as before, that is to say very modest, but he has four analyses, which will enable him to keep his head above water.
Now another point arises. He is also willing, even keen, to move to Berlin, where his task would be facilitated in all sorts of ways by association with the polyclinic. The position of the polyclinic itself as the headquarters of the Ψα movement would be only strengthened thereby. The question I now want to ask you is whether in addition to Sachs, whose activities must not be reduced, you also have room for Reik analysing doctors and giving lectures. If that is the case, he can move very quickly, the Verlag will take over his flat here, and we shall have extricated one more of our people from the Vienna quagmire. As Reik has a small family, he has to be found a roof over his head in Berlin. I ask you for an answer to all this.
I am as usual very busy, but the special feature now is that I have to speak and listen to a foreign language for four to six hours a day. To that I attribute my complete lack of productivity. It is an exhausting business. You will receive the “Beyond”2 in a few days; when my daughter returns I shall be able to devote myself to the mass psychology again. Your book3 will be ready very soon, you will have heard of other plans from the circular letters, which, though a nuisance, are certainly very useful.
I send my cordial gre