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385A
Berlin-Grünewald
6 December 1920
Dear Professor,
Eitingon, Sachs, and I are in full agreement regarding your enquiry on Reik's behalf—that for the time being the answer must be negative. We prepared for Sachs for months in advance, that is to say saved up for him all the doctors who were eager for analysis. At the moment there are no cases or, at most, one appropriate one. As the colleague in question is in a bad financial position, it is as good as if he were nonexistent—speaking in Reik's own financial interest. Sachs is fully occupied. If new analysands turn up, we could keep them for Reik, but that will take rather a long time. With regard to lectures, there is sufficient scope for one, but at present there is not enough for two.
We feel that all of you in Vienna have a mistaken idea about conditions in Berlin. You write about R. that he is “keeping his head above water” in Vienna. He could not expect more here, for it is no different for any of us. Expenditure on necessities completely runs through even a “large” income. We are very pleased that Sachs, for instance, has sufficient income to live comfortably. Reik, who would naturally for some time earn less than Sachs, has a wife and child to feed and would have great difficulties. You must consider also that I, for instance, can only just earn enough for our needs. The only thing that Reik might find better here is that food is easier to get. But I shall keep the whole matter in mind. The gratifying progress of our cause in Berlin may present better prospects at a later date! Incidentally, it is not clear to us how the person responsible for the literature could work at such a distance from the journals. Correspondence is too difficult at present.
We have decided to include something about conditions in Berlin in our next Committee letter, so that, for instance, Ferenczi and his colleagues are informed and are preserved from having too great hopes.
I have very good news to report about my introductory course. Th